Online Sports Expo goes live on website

Published: 29 Jan 2021

The 2021 Online Sports Expo and Sign-on is now live on council’s website.

Anyone seeking information on sports and recreation choices in our region can do so via the website throughout February.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the Sports Expo and Sign-on, held at the MECC on a Sunday in February for the last 10 years, had been extremely popular.

But he said COVID-19 restrictions meant a physical expo was unable to be held in 2021, so the decision was made to put together a virtual event online for the month of February

“Last year’s expanded expo, which was hosted in the MECC plenary halls, the North Foyer and outside, attracted about 8000 people, as well as more than 110 exhibitors.

“COVID-19 restrictions mean we just can’t host a crowd of that size in 2021 but our organising committee has put together a very good online expo.”

The webpage includes a virtual map of the MECC and booths with information about 100 sports and recreation clubs and organisations.

There is no physical expo at the MECC this year.

The online site also includes the Gold Coast Suns and Brisbane Heat Active Zones, with videos of eight demonstrations.

“Our active zones are a popular feature of the Sports Expo and Sign-on each year, so we decided to replicate them in a virtual format,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“We invited sports and recreation groups to do short demonstrations at the MECC that we recorded and those videos have been uploaded to the website,’’ he said.

Clubs and groups that registered and provided details for booths at the online expo were also encouraged to stage come-and-try days throughout February.

The site includes a calendar with details of more than 30 come-and-try and sign-on days throughout the region that people can attend.

Mayor Williamson said anyone attending one of those days was encouraged to upload a photo to social media and hashtag it #onlinesportexpo.

“Just by doing so they’ll have the chance to win a signed 2008 Brisbane Heat cricket bat provided by sponsor Harrup Park’s Great Barrier Reef Arena,” he said.

Other competitions will also be held as part on the online expo.

“All of the details are on the website. Jump on and have a look anytime in February,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

The 2021 Online Sports Expo and Sign-on is supported by Mackay Regional Council, Harrup Park’s Great Barrier Reef Arena, Western Suburbs Leagues Club and media partner Star 101.9 and 4MK.