Future Pan Pacific Master’s Games on the Gold Coast

Our Association has organised and administered the Pan Pacific soccer games for the past 8 years on the Gold Coast. This was done under an agreement which expired in 2006. Our Association was invited to submit an expression of interest using set criteria to host the soccer games for the Games.

Based on our past experience and knowledge we were able to submit a comprehensive document expressing our interest as host of the soccer games. We considered on our strengths, that we had an above average chance of success. You will recall that the 2006 soccer games were extremely successful despite the problems with the weather and some field conditions.

I am disappointed to advise that we will not host the 2008 soccer games on behalf of the Pan Pacific Master’s Games Committee however on the plus side this now means that we won’t have to be off our fields 8 weeks prior to the Masters. We have been advised that the hosting of the soccer has been awarded to Gold Coast Soccer Inc.

You may be aware that Gold Coast Soccer Inc did not acknowledge our request for sanction of the previous Master’s Games due to the fact that not all players participating are registered with the federation. This will become a major problem for the 2008 Master’s Games as there are many players from abroad as well as Australia that wouldn’t be registered with a federation. Both David Kay from Football Queensland and Peter Gray from Gold Coast Soccer Inc had given no options or solutions to the problem in 2006 and that means unless our players are fully registered with the federations they would not be able to participate in the Pan Pacific Masters in 2008.

Our Association is the largest of its kind administering an over 35 soccer in the Pacific Region and we consider that we have been treated unfairly. Especially so, because the reason given for granting Gold Coast Soccer Inc the games was that their marketing plan was superior to our plan. Reflecting on the number of teams, the number of soccer fields and the time over which the games are played, attracting teams to play in the games has never been an issue. The demand by teams to play in the Games has always exceeded expectation. The past games have been well supported and our Association has never been advised otherwise.

Personally I feel it’s not the marketing that was the problem but the very poor field conditions as the main marketing responsibility lays with the Pan Pacific Masters Games and that is why there are two fees. The games fee pays for the administration and the sports fee goes to the sports organisation to pay their running costs. In 2004 our players had to move to another venue for more than 5 weeks prior to the Masters so the GCCC Parks & Gardens could prepare the fields for the Master’s Games. A minimum amount of work was done and also due to the weather condition it was a disaster. GCCC Parks & Gardens promised that the fields would be in top condition for the 2006 Master’s Games but in April 2006 I informed Donna Spethman from the PPMG that we could have a repeat condition of the fields as in 2004. In 2006 our club moved 8 weeks prior to the Master’s Games to another venue but results were no different than in 2004. It did not help turfing areas of the field 2 weeks prior to the Games. Of course the PPMG have to take marketing over the conditions of the fields as the GCCC is one of their major sponsors and other sports rely on help from the GCCC. 

Just a bit of history for new members.

Meetings were held in 1989 with GCSI in regards to starting an over 35 competition however GCSI  found it would not be viable unless full senior fees were paid and also they did not have the resources to organise it. However within six months they saw the dollar signs and tried to enforce sanctions on clubs hosting the Golden Oldies as by that time we had 12 teams participating. We moved to the Nerang Velodrome solely to be independent from any soccer club but continued to be one of the biggest junior sponsors on the coast. For a while we had a good relationship with the GCSI after management changes.

With the present directors of GCSI we haven’t had the same relationship and for the past four years they have tried to establish a rival competition. Last year I was told by Peter Gray that our club could no longer be affiliated unless all players were registered with GCSI for a fee of approximately $130. This amount would have been on top of the fees we now pay and our fees could have gone higher if we would have to pay their referee fees. As you see the GCSI has done nothing for over 35 soccer for more than 20 years but the Pan Pacific Masters feel they offer more potential to further grow to the Master Soccer.

It is understood that the games will be played in the Carrara Stadium, consequently our Association will not sponsor members who wish to play in the 2008 Games and further our competition will not be suspended during the Master’s Games in November 2008.