Senator the Hon. George Brandis S.C.

Minister for the Arts and Sport

8 May 2007

The Australian Government will provide $10 million in 2006-07 towards Stage Two of the National Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator George Brandis, announced today.

“The MCG is Australia’s spiritual home of sport, and the National Sports Museum will be a fitting and dynamic tribute to Australia’s sporting heritage and will become a major attraction to both locals and visitors,” Senator Brandis said.

“The National Sports Museum will not only include sporting memorabilia. It will also feature state-of-the-art interactive installations which will allow sport lovers not only to be inspired by Australia’s sporting heroism, but to actually ‘live‘ the experience.”

The funding will be used for a number of attractions within the National Sports Museum, including:

• a simulator aimed at the youth market, which will simulate the feeling and emotion felt by sports people when performing their craft;
• a multi-media optical display, featuring cricket and AFL football players, that enables the visitor to believe that the person is right there with them; and
• an experiential theatre that provides surround viewing and audio on a curved wall to give a 180 degree experience.

The funding will also be used for the relocation of AFL World from Melbourne’s QV Building and the construction of the National Sports Museum entrance.

In 2005-06 the Australian Government provided $15 million towards the establishment of the National Sports Museum. The National Sports Museum is expected to open in March 2008, with Stage Two scheduled for completion in March 2009.

Media Contact: Travis Bell, 0448 950 248

Supporting Information

$10.0 million towards the National Sports Museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

• The National Sports Museum will be a national focal point for achievements and values in sport, in particular the notion that the pursuit of excellence at the highest levels is consistent with a commitment to fair play. It will serve as an inspiration to the youth of Australia to be active, set goals and achieve them.

• The Australian community.

• The Australian Government will provide $10.0 million in 2006-07.

• During the 2004 Federal election campaign the Coalition committed $37.9 million for 38 sport and recreation facilities projects around the nation.
• In 2005-06, the Australian Government provided $15.0 million to the Melbourne Cricket Club for the establishment of a National Sports Museum.
• In the 2006-07 Additional Estimates process, the Government announced $2.5 million to the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia for the construction of a National Training Centre for Aerial Skiing.
• In the 2007-08 Budget, the Government will provide $25.0 million towards the construction of a new grandstand at the SCG, and $25.0 million towards the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval.

• The National Sports Museum is expected to open in March 2008, with the interactive installations completed by March 2009.