CONFIRMATION of another Mars landing in Ballarat this week, so soon after 50th anniversary celebrations for first man on the moon, inspires a time to reflect.
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You only have to look back even the past decade or so to really appreciate how much Ballarat has grown and evolved as a major regional sporting centre, demanding attention on the national and world stages. But it is also exciting to remember where we have come from as we move forward
The impacts for Ballarat are far greater than our sporting fields. This reinforces we can host the big players, we have incredible voices that must be heard and ultimately, Ballarat is worth the investment for tourism, livability and infrastructure.
Here are a five quick picks:
'DOGS ON MARS
Western Bulldogs first set foot on our specially developed Mars Stadium for an AFL match for premiership points on August 19, 2017. The AFL's round 23 fixture release this week confirmed the 'Dogs will host Adelaide on August 25 for a fifth time.
A decade ago, AFL premiership season matches in Ballarat was the thing of dreams. The Courier launched its Think Big Ballarat campaign to bring the game to town in early September 2011. Our Victorian Football League club North Ballarat Roosters were in the midst of what was to be a flag three-peat. While the Roosters no longer exist, elite football is still bouncing in our backyard.
REVERSE GALLOPS
Ballarat Turf Club's new multi-million dollar synthetic track came into play this year, offering great flexibility for race meetings. Perhaps one of the club's boldest moves the past decade has been to turn horses in the opposite direction for a feature race on cup day.
BTC became the first club in 65 years to host a clockwise event on a Victorian course when it introduced its Magic Millions-sponsored event for two-year-olds in 2012. The New South Wales and Queensland way-of-going has been a highlight on Ballarat Cup Day since.
THE CLIMB
Cycling Australia last week unveiled tweaks to its national road championships schedule set for Buninyong in January, This includes adding to para-cycling events, which were introduced to the program last summer. This will be the final year on the existing contract for Ballarat to play host to the championships. It is exciting to look forward to growing the championships but incredible to look back on how much the atmosphere and festival feel has developed.
RoadNats only returned to Ballarat in 2007 after a two-year hiatus based in South Australia. In 2010, the notorious Buninyong climb was a test for the world's best including Italian superstar Filippo Pozatto and his countrymen. They seemingly glided up the mount for a prelude event to the world championships in Geelong.
RUNNING THIS CITY
Run for a Cause is preparing to put a Ballarat half-marathon back on the map in November. The Ballarat Foundation announced last month its mass participation event, first run last year, would add the 21.1-kilometre distance to appeal to the wider running community. Ballarat has not hosted an open half-marathon since the last St John of God Medi-Marathon in 2010.
The Foundation stepped up mid-last year to fill a gap left by the much-loved Run Ballarat movement, which had more than 29,000 entrants run this city since its inaugural event in 2012.
PLAY BALL
After more than a decade of intense lobbying from a cross-section of the community and support from grassroots athletes as far as Ararat and Hamilton, we have a new indoor stadium.
Miners and Rush will make Ballarat Sports and Events Centre home next season but the most highly publicised high school basketballer in the United States will play an exhibition match here next month in the showcourt arena's first major hit-out. LaMelo Ball and his NBL team Illawarra Hawks will face Melbourne United in a match certain to attract international attention.
ALSO CONSIDER
Gold medal voices Jared Tallent (race walk) and Kathryn Mitchell ( javelin) speaking up and leading by example on issues that are still hot topics in sport today. Tallent on cleaning up drugs and Mitchell on mental health.
Always keep thinking big, Ballarat.
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