Mackay Basketball will host the Under 20 Australian Junior and Ivor Burge Basketball Championships for the first time in both 2021 and 2022, as part of a two-year agreement between Basketball Australia (BA), Tourism and Events Queensland and Mackay Regional Council.

The 2021 event, which will see a men’s and women’s division contested in both Championships, will be held from May 3 – 7 at the McDonalds Mackay Multi-Sport Stadium.

The Under 20 Australian Junior Championships was first established in 1974 (men’s) and 1981 (women’s), and see teams representing each state and territory compete for the title of Under 20s national champions. The Ivor Burge Championships is for open-age players with an intellectual disability and dates back to 1995 when the inaugural tournament was held.

Queensland Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the two-year agreement would result in 20 teams competing over five days at the Multi-Sport Stadium this year.

“Mackay will host the men’s and women’s Under 20 Australian Junior Championships and Ivor Burge Championships for open-age players with an intellectual disability the first time from May 3 – 7 2021, and host the championships again in 2022.

“These are state, amateur representative teams featuring the best young basketball talent and support crews staying in Mackay for the duration of the competition.

“For fans of the game, there is a feast of basketball to be had in Mackay.

“We know the tourism industry is hurting but it is events like the Under 20 Australian Junior Basketball Championships and Ivor Burge Championships that help to bring visitors to regional Queensland and support local jobs.

“Events are backing our state’s economic recovery from COVID and helping the tourism industry to rebuild and rebuild better.”

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said the council was looking forward to hosting elite level junior basketball athletes in our region.

“Events like these are not only great news for sporting fans but they improve the region’s liveability,” Mayor Williamson said.

“Council is proud to support these events through our Invest Mackay Events Attraction Fund, which aims to attract more visitors to our region and, in turn, generate positive economic results for our community while fostering community pride.”

General Manager Basketball at BA, Paul Maley said the sport’s governing body is excited to be bringing these National Championships to Mackay in North Queensland for the next two-years.

“The Under 20 Australian Junior and Ivor Burge Championships showcase the best young basketball talent from across the nation. These Championships are a critical part of the pathway for elite players, officials and coaches and many of our sport’s greatest athletes have played in this event over the years, making for high quality and entertaining basketball over the week-long competition.

“Basketball Australia would like to thank the Queensland Government, Tourism and Events Queensland, Mackay Regional Council and Mackay Basketball for their ongoing support of basketball and for hosting these important national championships.”

One of Australia’s greatest basketballers and current senior women’s national team head coach, Sandy Brondello, said she is both proud and delighted to see her hometown hosting the Under 20 Australian Junior and Ivor Burge Championships.

“I’m thrilled that Mackay will be hosting these two Championships over the next two years. Mackay is a passionate basketball city and was a wonderful co-host of the hugely successful 2020 WNBL season.

“Having participated in the Under 20 Australian Junior Championships for Queensland in 1995, I know firsthand just how much this tournament means to Australia’s emerging elite basketballers and their career aspirations.

“I’m certain the people of Mackay will embrace these National Championships and will make it an event to remember for visitors to the region.”

One of Mackay’s finest, Chemist Warehouse Australian Opal Marianna Tolo is excited to see one of her favourite events heading to North Queensland.

“It’s great news that the Under 20 Australian Junior Championships will be contested in Mackay over the next couple of years.

“I represented Queensland at the 2007 and 2008 Championships, where we claimed a silver and bronze respectively. They were actually my first medals at any national championships, so I have great memories of competing at the Under 20s.

“As an aspiring basketballer in Australia, these championships are important in your career progression and Mackay will be the perfect host for such an occasion.”

The fixture and ticketing information for the event will be announced in due course.

The 2021 and 2022 Under 20 Australian Junior and Ivor Burge Championships are supported by the Queensland Government, Tourism and Events Queensland, Mackay Regional Council and Mackay Basketball.