CEO of the North Queensland Sports Foundation Stephen Farrell told representatives of around a dozen local sports that next year’s event would be the fifth games and it was supported by Glencore, Mount Isa City Council, Followmount Transport and RACQ.

“There will be events hosted in Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Richmond, Hughenden and Charters Towers held over two weekend,” Mr Farrell.

Though Mr Farrell told the meeting the dates for the Games had not yet been confirmed, an email from Mount Isa City Council after the meeting confirmed it would coincide with school holidays from June 24 to July 2.

Cr Peta MacRae had flagged that likelihood during the meeting said it would be a tourism opportunity to bring people out from the coast during the holidays as well as giving locals a reason to stay. 

Mr Farrell said the last games in 2015 had a total of 1570 competitors over 15 sporting events in Mount Isa and Charters Towers.

“We had a high profile ambassador for the last Games (bowler Brett Wilkie) and we’ll be looking to get one again in 2017,” he said.

Mr Farrell said sporting bodies looking to host an event would require proof of $5 million in public liability insurance, permission from their state sporting body to host the event, have an appropriate level of sports medicine on site, and register their facilities and a list of all competitors.

Mr Farrell said the Games organisation would supply gold, silver and bronze medals and they would supply logos and promotional material if sports had successfully applied to be a host.

There would be extra requirements for road events like cycling and running, and each organisation would pay $165 to host plus $5 per competitor.

“North Queensland Sports Foundation is a not for profit so all this money will be spent on promoting your sports,” Mr Farrell said.