Athletes primed for Virtus Asia Oceania Games 2022 in Queensland
A week-long festival of inclusive sport is being held at venues across Brisbane and the Gold Coast from 5-11 November as athletes from more than 25 nations compete in the Virtus Oceania Asia Games 2022.
Hundreds of athletes and officials from across Asia and the Pacific will be giving their all in 11 sports, held at six venues across Brisbane and the Gold Coast including:
- Sleeman Sports Complex, Chandler – Badminton, basketball, track cycling, judo, indoor rowing, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo
- Gold Coast Performance Centre, Runaway Bay – Triathlon
- Hollywell Southport Yacht Club – Sailing
- QSAC, Nathan – Athletics
- RACQ Mobility Centre, Mount Cotton – Road cycling and time trial
- Wyaralong Dam, Scenic Rim – Rowing
Some of the athletes with an intellectual impairment competing this week could be in the frame for Paralympic glory at Paris 2024, LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032.
They’re representing countries including Australia, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand.
The OA Games 2022 are all about creating a world included through sport and inspiring people to overcome obstacles and reach for their own personal goals.
It’s the first multi-sport event for elite athletes with an intellectual impairment in this region post-COVID, so provides a much-needed outlet for competition for athletes who have been so resilient throughout the pandemic.
Some athletes are also competing from the Americas regions, who couldn’t compete due to the cancellation of the Regional Virtus Americas Games event planned for September this year.
The Queensland Government is supporting the event with $900,000 funding and in-kind support of up to $700,000.
For more information or tickets, please visit https://oagames2022.org/.