New partnership great result for athletics

For the first time in 56 years, athletics in NSW will be streamlined with two major organisations joining forces to form the NSW Athletics Partnership.

For more than half a century, athletics in NSW has been divided between Athletics NSW (ANSW) and Little Athletics NSW (LANSW).

On the Central Coast there are clubs at Gosford, Mingara Regional at Tumbi Umbi, Terrigal/Wamberal, Toukley District, Woy Woy Peninsula and Wyong.

As a nation of sport lovers, Australia’s athletic spirit runs high, with athletics ranking as one of the most popular activities across the country.

With the 2024 Olympics just around the corner and the rising popularity of athletics, having a streamlined platform for Australian athletes to participate, develop and compete is crucial.

With that in mind, ANSW and LANSW are joining forces to launch the NSW Athletics Partnership to simplify and enhance the Athletics experience in NSW.

The NSW Athletics Partnership entails ANSW and LANSW delivering the first entirely unified and single athletics offering in NSW in 56 years and has three main components – one affiliation structure, one membership offering, and one championships and events pathway open to all participants in the NSW Athletics community.

The NSW Athletics Partnership ensures the removal of duplicated membership costs and administrative processes, while also significantly expanding competition opportunities and pathways for all members by providing everyone with the best that both ANSW and LANSW have to offer.

The NSW Athletics Partnership also lays the groundwork for other operational efficiencies and savings to be reinvested directly back into centres, clubs and athletes.

Key benefits will mean children and parents will no longer be forced to make any choices as to which type of athletics offering they wish to take up.

Children and parents will no longer be required to pay two membership fees and two event entry fees and will save money and it means an end to all duplicated competitions and championships, leading to less confusion and over-competition of young athletes.

The retention of the successful and valuable Little Athletics brand; and LANSW and ANSW will jointly promote the NSW Athletics offerings, providing a platform for increased growth and retention.

“With Little Athletics NSW and Athletics NSW coming together, the athletics structure will be streamlined and united,” Gosford Athletics and Throws Coach president Stuart Farrant said.

“The competition and costs won’t be duplicated, and it’ll be great.

“I’m a throws coach and the biggest thing in that space is that the weights for the age group for Athletics NSW and Little Athletics NSW are not always the same.

“So, for example, I’ve got a couple of kids in under 12s and 13s, and when they compete for Little Athletics, the javelin that they throw is a 400g one.

“If they do that same competition in Athletics NSW, it will be 600g.

“This new streamlined partnership of NSW Athletics will certainly help in this area but will also help grow the sport and support Central Coast athletes in their own journeys.”