World's top eight Netball nations confirmed.
The Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Mr Justin Madden, and Games CEO, Mr John Harnden, have joined Netballers from the Australian squad at the State Netball Hockey Centre to announce details of the Netball team draw for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
It was revealed that the top eight world ranked international Netball teams will compete at the Games.
Minister Madden firstly congratulated members of the Sydney Swifts and Melbourne Phoenix Netball teams, on hand for the launch of the team draw, who contested the National Netball League Grand Final the previous evening.
"The present success of Australian Netball is demonstrated by the interest in Netball tickets for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games," Mr Madden said.
"With nearly 38,000 tickets made available to the public through the Ticket Ballot already snapped up, fans today can find out about Australia's competition draw, which begins on the evening of Friday March 17 with the first match against Wales."
The 12 nations to compete at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, in order of ranking are: New Zealand (1), Australia (2), Jamaica (3), England (4), South Africa (5), Samoa (6), Barbados (7), Fiji (8), St Vincent and Grenadines (13), Wales (14), Malawi and a still yet-to-be-confirmed Asian qualifier.
An Asian team will be decided following the completion of a qualifier tournament in Singapore later this week. The tournament was delayed out of respect for the nations affected by the tsunami earlier this year.
The Games Chief Executive Officer, John Harnden, said Netball fans were in for a real treat come March next year.
"The Netball gold medal playoff at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, when Australia beat New Zealand in triple overtime, was one of the most exciting moments in Commonwealth Games history," Mr Harnden said.
"Today's announcement of the draw for the Netball competition, with just 192 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, really whets the appetite for the intense clashes we can expect come March next year."
Netball Australia Chief Executive Officer, Ms Lindsay Cane, said the team was very proud of winning gold medals in both Manchester and Kuala Lumpur and were now looking forward to fiercely defending their title in Melbourne next year.
"Netball fans from across the globe are in for a real treat as 12 determined netballing nations come together to put on a great spectacle as they compete in front of sell out crowds," Ms Cane said.
Australian clashes at the State Netball Hockey Centre include:
It was revealed that the top eight world ranked international Netball teams will compete at the Games.
Minister Madden firstly congratulated members of the Sydney Swifts and Melbourne Phoenix Netball teams, on hand for the launch of the team draw, who contested the National Netball League Grand Final the previous evening.
"The present success of Australian Netball is demonstrated by the interest in Netball tickets for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games," Mr Madden said.
"With nearly 38,000 tickets made available to the public through the Ticket Ballot already snapped up, fans today can find out about Australia's competition draw, which begins on the evening of Friday March 17 with the first match against Wales."
The 12 nations to compete at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, in order of ranking are: New Zealand (1), Australia (2), Jamaica (3), England (4), South Africa (5), Samoa (6), Barbados (7), Fiji (8), St Vincent and Grenadines (13), Wales (14), Malawi and a still yet-to-be-confirmed Asian qualifier.
An Asian team will be decided following the completion of a qualifier tournament in Singapore later this week. The tournament was delayed out of respect for the nations affected by the tsunami earlier this year.
The Games Chief Executive Officer, John Harnden, said Netball fans were in for a real treat come March next year.
"The Netball gold medal playoff at the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games, when Australia beat New Zealand in triple overtime, was one of the most exciting moments in Commonwealth Games history," Mr Harnden said.
"Today's announcement of the draw for the Netball competition, with just 192 days to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, really whets the appetite for the intense clashes we can expect come March next year."
Netball Australia Chief Executive Officer, Ms Lindsay Cane, said the team was very proud of winning gold medals in both Manchester and Kuala Lumpur and were now looking forward to fiercely defending their title in Melbourne next year.
"Netball fans from across the globe are in for a real treat as 12 determined netballing nations come together to put on a great spectacle as they compete in front of sell out crowds," Ms Cane said.
Australian clashes at the State Netball Hockey Centre include:
Date Session Competition
Friday 17 March 8.30pm - 10.00pm Australia versus Wales
Sunday 19 March 1.00pm - 2.30pm Australia versus Barbados
Tuesday 21 March 3.00pm - 4.30pm Australia versus Samoa
Wednesday 22 March 6.30pm - 8.00pm Australia versus Jamaica
Thursday 23 March 2.00pm - 3.30pm Australia versus Asian Qualifier
Last Modified on 25/01/2006 16:41
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