Media release – Ice Sports Tasmania, 16 February 2020
Tassie Ice Sports dreams at risk of melting
Tasmania’s ice sports community is accelerating a campaign to secure a new home amid fears the state’s figure skaters and ice hockey players are about to lose their only ice rink.
Located at Glenorchy, the state’s only rink is for sale and at risk of being repurposed. If this happens, hundreds of social and competitive ice-hockey and figure skating athletes will have no future in their sport. Elite athletes and coaches will have to consider relocating interstate to pursue their careers and the community will lose a much-loved place for recreation and community connection.
Ice Sports Tasmania (IST) is a newly formed peak body created to support, promote and advance ice-based sports and recreation in Tasmania. It is committed to ensuring that an all-inclusive, fit-for-purpose ice rink facility exists in Tasmania to serve the needs of our athletes and the wider community.
IST will be officially launched at 930am on Wednesday 16th February (TODAY) at Wrest Point Hotel (Boardwalk Gallery) in Sandy Bay.
IST has been campaigning for state and federal government support to secure a new ice rink but to date there has been no commitment to enable the continuation of these sports. With a federal election looming, Australia enjoying great success at the Winter Olympics, and a newly announced Commonwealth Games bid for Tasmania, IST is calling on the state government to prioritise support for local athletes and the community to be able to maintain their sports and compete on a level playing field with interstate competitors.
Throwing his support behind IST’s campaign, independent MP for Clark Andrew Wilkie said if the Glenorchy ice rink was lost then Tasmania would be the only state in Australia without one.
“The loss of the state’s only ice-skating rink will leave about 200 athletes out in the cold, not to mention the many recreational visitors to the long-running sports facility,” Mr. Wilkie said.
“It would be a tragedy if aspiring and established figure skaters and ice hockey players were forced to move interstate to pursue their dreams for want of adequate facilities in their home state. I will certainly be doing everything in my power to assist Ice Sports Tasmania in its efforts to find another home.”
Today’s IST launch will feature the premiere of a short film created by local film-maker Sophia Bender (‘Little Rink, Big Dreams) to support the ‘Save our Ice Sports’ campaign. It shares insights from athletes about what losing the rink will mean for them and their dreams. The film will be available online from 1030am today via https://fb.me/e/2izraPKME
For more information and to provide your support, go to www.icesportstasmamia.com.au.
