Arafura Games

The Arafura Games is a unique, inclusive multi-sport event where athletes with a disability compete in the same program as able-bodied athletes. Competitors from around the world compete in the week-long games held every 2 years in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

Called a ''"meeting of Sporting Neighbours"'', the Arafura Games takes its name from the Arafura Sea, which lies between northern Australia and Southeast Asia. Nations along the Arafura Sea originally formed the basis of the Arafura Games, however in recent years countries from further afield have participated, including United States, England, Brazil and Liechtenstein.

History

First held in 1991. A foundation sport of the Arafura Games, Basketball has grown from a 4 team competition with teams from around the Darwin region to an 8 team international competition with teams from all over the world. The Games were known as the Arafura Sports Festival up until 1997. These Games were the first ever international sporting festival to have Australian Rules Football as an international competition sport in its own right. The International Australian Football Council was formed after the 1995 Games, playing an important role in promoting Aussie Rules until dissolving in 2001.

The Arafura Games were cancelled in 2003 due to concern over the SARS virus. From 2005 onwards, the Arafura Games included events for athletes with physical disabilities. The 2007 Arafura Games received patronage from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

In 2011, the Arafura Games incorporated the Oceania Paralympic Championships for the sports of athletics,
swimming, powerlifting, and table tennis.

The 2013 Arafura Games was cancelled by the newly elected CLP government on 31 October 2012 as it "costs too much to run".

After an eight-year hiatus, the 2019 Arafura Games were held from 27 April to 4 May 2019.

Basketball

Conducted under Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) conditions and Guidelines, Basketball is played at the Darwin Basketball Stadium, Abala Road Marrara, in the Marrara Sporting Complex.

In recent years, USA squad players from university teams dominated the competition. The Northern Territory team have been shaded in the last 4 Arafura Games by the Americans and only their depth on the bench has let them down. The Northern Territory have won the Silver medal in the past 4 Arafura games. 2007 Arafura Game
Basketball results

:Gold ''United States of America: USA Colleges''
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:Silver ''Northern Territory: Northern Territory''
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:Bronze ''Australian Indigenous: Australian Indigenous''

Sports

The sports played at the 2011 Arafura Games:

*Athletics – including Paralympic athletics and Olympic events
*Basketball
*Boxing ()
*Cricket – Twenty20 format ()
*Football (soccer) – including Paralympic football events
*Golf
*Hockey
*International lifesaving
*Muay Thai
*Sepak takraw
*Shooting – Clay Target
*Shooting – Pistol (IPSC)
*Shooting – Pistol/Air Rifle (ISSF)
*Squash
*Swimming – including Paralympic swimming events
*Table tennis – including Paralympic table tennis events
*Ten-pin bowling
*Triathlon
*Volleyball
*Weightlifting – including Paralympic powerlifting events ()
*Water polo

Other sports played at the Arafura Games:
* Netball ()

Participating countries

;East Asia
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;South Asia
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;Central Asia
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;SouthEast Asia
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;Oceania/ Pacific
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;AUS States/ territories
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;AUS Other
* Australian Defence Force
* Indigenous Australians

;The Americas
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;The Persian Gulf
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;Europe
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;Africa
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References

Archive of results - 2007, 2009 & 2011

External links

Official website

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Sport in Darwin, Northern Territory
Tourist attractions in Darwin, Northern Territory
Multi-sport events in Australia
Sports festivals in Australia
Sports competitions in the Northern Territory