Ballarat has already delivered on the promise of a cultural festival alongside the Commonwealth Games and time will tell if we can do it again 20 years later.
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During the Melbourne 2006 Games, Ballarat hosted part of the basketball lineup along with Bendigo, Geelong and Traralgon.
Alongside the sporting action, a "live site" was created in Camp Street where spectators could watch the Games and enjoy a 12-day entertainment program.
The City of Ballarat adopted India as a secondary team, with officials spending two years laying the groundwork between Indian businesses for the country to become a potential trading partner with the city.
Members from the Confederation of Indian Industry visited Ballarat to be part of a business day to further strengthen ties with the country.
More than 400 Indian performers who were a part of the closing ceremony stayed in our city and commuted to Melbourne each day for rehearsals.
The council's chief executive at the time anticipated the visitors would put $700,000 into the city's economy.
Sovereign Hill also geared up for a bumper month of visitors, with leaders meeting with Tourism Australia to encourage people to spend time in the regions.
IN THE NEWS:
Organisers now have half the time the 2006 team had to deliver the Games across four different regional hubs while also promising a lasting legacy.
The state government is in the planning stages of 'Festival 2026' where they anticipate they will create "large-scale" festival sites showcasing our "heritage, diversity and culture".
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