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Some of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle’s top sporting venues will play host to the 2024 Australian Deaf Games being held 13th - 20th January, featuring more than 1000 competitors from across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, and including 20 sports.

The 2024 Australian Deaf Games are jointly hosted and supported by Lake Macquarie City Council and City of Newcastle.

Throughout next week, golf will be at Waratah Golf Club, athletics at Hunter Sports Stadium, soccer at the Regional Football Stadium at Speers Point and swimming at Toronto - to name a few.

The Australian Deaf Games celebratie inclusivity, sportsmanship and wellbeing.

Following a false start in 2022 due to COVID, Deaf Sports Australia Vice President Kathryn Armfield said the athletes and organisers were excited to explore the Hunter region throughout the 60th anniversary of the event, which will also double as the first Oceania Deaf Games.

"What's extra exciting about this event is that it's also the first Oceania Deaf Games, whereby Pacific countries have been invited to attend and compete," Armfield shared.

"The Australian and Oceania Deaf Games is not just a multi-sport event but also a major social and cultural celebration of the Australian Deaf Community.

"We welcome old faces and new faces with the hope that everyone goes home with new and renewed friendships and self-affirmation in themselves."

The program highlights will extend beyond the sporting field with a range of peripheral activities including: Auslan storytime and lessons, a movie night at Warners Bay Theatre, baramayiba, lake cruises, an immersive all ages disco and an epic closing ceremony at the Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP), mima on Saturday 20th January.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said it was an exciting opportunity to showcase the city's world class inclusive sporting facilities and visitor attractions.

"From competition at our evolving Hunter Sports Stadium to the cultural offerings of curator tours of exhibitions at our Museum of Art and Culture, yapang and MAP mima, there's no shortage of things to enjoy in and out of the sporting arena this week," she added.

"The closing ceremony at MAP mima will be a fitting finale to a week of fierce competition, friendship and unity, coinciding with our annual Lake Mac Festival.

"I encourage the community to come along and enjoy the games, support the competitors and make this Australian Deaf Games the best one yet."

The opening ceremony will be held tomorrow at the NEX Convention Centre in Newcastle West.

For more information visit austdeafgames.org.au or lakemac.com.au for closing ceremony details.

Image top: The Hunter Sports Stadium will host a range of events for the Australian Deaf Games Credit: Lake Macquarie City Council

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