Mount Isa is about to host the opening ceremony of the 2019 Glencore Great Western Games along with nine of the 18 sports events.
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While the games officially run on the next two weekends, 22, 23, 29 and 30 June, some of the events will run through into July and even August.
The Glencore Great Western Games are held once every two years and involve centres along the Overlanders Way, from Mount Isa to Charters Towers.
At this year's Games, Mount Isa will host the cycling, hockey, lawn bowls, pistol shooting, duathlon, mountain biking, dragon boating, trail run/walk, and motocross events.
Other events will take place in Charters Towers, Richmond or Hughenden - including the Porcupine Gorge Challenge which took place last weekend, and Stamford Foot Races - with participants coming from across the region.
Mount Isa Mayor Joyce McCulloch said Council was a proud sponsor of the games.
"One of the great things about the Great Western Games is how it fosters community spirit and strengthens ties between the towns along the entire Overlanders Way," Cr McCulloch said.
"Events such as these really benefit the social fabric and strengthen the resilience of our region, so I urge people to get out there and support the sporting events when they're being held here."
The opening ceremony will be held at the Mount Isa Hockey Fields on Friday, June 21, at 5.45pm.
The opening ceremony will include a march past, official welcome, acknowledgement of country, speeches, novelty events, and high-speed men's and women's hockey demonstration games.
The ambassador of the Games, former NRL player Neville Costigan, will be joined by North Queensland Sports Foundation CEO Stephen Farrell, Olympic hockey gold medallist and former Kookaburras captain Mark Knowles, and various dignitaries.
Mr Knowles will also be holding hockey coaching clinics while he's in Mount Isa and his visit was organised by the Mount Isa Hockey Association.
The closing ceremony will be held on June 30 at Lake Moondarra, after the dragon boating and trail walk/run events. Gecko Outdoor Sports will provide activities and games for kids, and there will also be a jumping castle and sausage sizzle.
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