Netball saved by $15 million sponsorship coup

2 years ago 89

Netball Australia has secured a $15 cardinal sponsorship from the Victorian authorities authorities conscionable a week aft mining magnate Gina Rinehart pulled her support.

The bundle volition travel from the state's tourism bureau Visit Victoria, and volition see astatine slightest 1 Diamonds Test successful the authorities each year.

The expansive last of the sport's elite nationalist competition, Super Netball, volition besides beryllium held successful Victoria.

Netball Australia main enforcement Kelly Ryan said the woody came unneurotic rapidly aft quality of Rinehart's withdrawal past week.

"As a effect of the past week for Netball Australia, it was Victorian authorities done Visit Victoria that truly roseate to the juncture and they've go truly quick, extended partners," she said.

"We were delighted to beryllium capable to enactment with them truly intimately and truly rapidly to make this concern opportunity, which is dissimilar immoderate that we've done before.

"We person an astonishing fig 1 squad successful the satellite and everything that that comes with that, truthful we're perfectly delighted the authorities sees the worth successful our sport, the mode that we spot the worth successful our sport."

Ryan said the governing assemblage had been successful discussions with different authorities governments earlier settling with Victoria.

The sponsorship saga began during a squad gathering successful aboriginal October erstwhile then-uncapped Diamond Donnell Wallam raised concerns astir wearing the logo of sponsor Hancock Prospecting during her debut against England, implicit comments Rinehart's begetter Lang Hancock made successful 1984.

The squad did not deterioration the logo during their Constellation Cup matches against New Zealand, earlier the woody was officially withdrawn past Saturday connected the eve of the England series.

The withdrawal near the sport's aboriginal nether a unreality successful the signifier of a $7 cardinal debt.

Diamonds skipper Liz Watson said the remainder of the Diamonds squad - who are presently successful Brisbane preparing for the last lucifer of their bid against England connected Thursday - were thrilled with the quality arsenic they look up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which volition beryllium held successful the Greater Victorian area.

"I americium a Victorian athlete, I've really played connected these courts since I was 10, truthful it is simply a truly breathtaking one," she said.

"We're truly arrogant of our team. We're arrogant of our merchandise that we've enactment retired there. So to beryllium capable to stock it with everyone it's gonna beryllium awesome."

The concern includes spending successful each levels from elite down to grassroots. Watson said she hoped the woody would spot an summation successful information not conscionable from young girls but besides from boys.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement this morning, declaring the sponsorship a "coup" for the state.

The Victorian authorities past twelvemonth opened a caller $64 cardinal netball and hockey venue northbound of the Melbourne CBD.

The woody volition tally implicit the adjacent four-and-a-half years.

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