2018 Commonwealth Games,

Today marks 1 year until the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealth Games is one of the largest elite multi-sport events in the world, equivalent to staging 15 world championships simultaneously. GC2018 will be the biggest international sporting event staged in Australia for a decade and the largest ever hosted by the Gold Coast.

As a part of a City wide readiness program to get everyone on the Gold Coast prepared to host this amazing event, we have considered how the Games will impact on GCRS services during the 11 day event.

 All GC2018 sports events will be held in existing and new or upgraded venues on the Gold Coast, and residents are being encouraged to consider how this may impact on work, business and transport activities.  Gold Coasters are already being discouraged from using their cars, particularly on the main roads in Southport, Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Robina, Carrara and Coomera which are part of the Games Route Network.  In addition to road closures and significant traffic congestion, we have already been made aware that many of our community venues and facilities will be unavailable for use during this period.

After much deliberations and consultation it is our intention is to close GCRS services from Monday 2nd April to Friday 13th April 2018.

With 365 days until the event kicks off, we hope that this advance notice will give all of our families and friends enough time to make alternative arrangements for support during this time. We would also encourage you to link early with respite and other service providers if needed.

We are embracing the Games with much excitement and anticipation, and our wish is for all of our families, clients, volunteers and staff to use this special time to also get out and be a part of the Games.

Other dates and information we would like you to be aware of in advance.

 20th July - Staff Training. (GCRS closed)  7th September – Annual Athletics Carnival (GCRS closed)  Christmas Break – Due to the office closure during the Games we will be taking a shorter break at Christmas. The last day of programs for 2017 will be the 21st December and we will reopen Wednesday 3rd January 2018.

It is a constant challenge to keep everyone up to date with everything that is happening at GCRS. With this in mind we are pleased to announce the launch of our brand new website! After months of hard work and dedication, we are delighted to officially announce that www.gcrs.com.au is now live.

Our goal with this new website is to provide an easier way to learn about GCRS’s programs, events and service information. The new website is interactive and gives easy access to: About Us, Programs and Activities, Events, Volunteering and Employment and Resources and Forms.

Current and prospective clients will find useful information about our services on the website and it is our hope that it becomes a reliable source of information now and into the future.

We will be constantly updating our content with new program information, event updates, blogs and newsletters. This creates a shift in thinking for all of us, as we move towards increasing the use of electronic communication. The website, email communications and our Facebook page form an integral part of our communication strategy with our clients and with the community.

The aim of the website is to provide information, education and resources whilst the FB page provides us with an opportunity to share our stories, promote GCRS and its partners and also as a means for immediate notifications. Emails will also be used to communicate non-urgent specific information about your programs and services.

We hope you enjoy the fresh look of our website, with easy to access information.

For any questions, suggestions, feedback or comments, please email [email protected]

The Gold Coast (GC2018) will be the largest sporting event Australia will see this decade and the biggest sporting spectacular the Gold Coast has ever seen. As the first regional Australian city to ever host a Commonwealth Games, the Gold Coast will celebrate a great Games in a great city leaving great memories and great benefits for all.

On 4 April 2018, over 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 nations and territories will converge on the Gold Coast for an 11 day sporting and cultural event.

The event is unprecedented in our city’s history, and is destined to define our future.

With the proud support of close to 15,000 passionate and friendly volunteers, a spectacle of 18 sports and 7 para-sports will be contested and broadcast to a cumulative global audience of 1.5 billion. It’s expected that more than 100 000 visitors will converge on the Gold Coast to be a part of this awesome event.

SPORTS and VENUES

1. Broadbeach Bowls Club Lawn Bowls 2. Athletics 3. Beachfront Beach Volleyball 4. Coomera Indoor Sports Centre Gymnastics Artistic & Rhythmic, Netball. 5. Currumbin Beachfront Cycling (road), Athletics (race walking) 6. Southport Aquatic Centre Diving, Swimming 7. Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre Basketball, Netball 8. Hockey 9. Nerang Mountain Bike Trails Cycling (mountain biking) 10. Oxenford Studios Boxing, Squash, Table Tennis 11. Rugby Sevens 12. Southport Broadwater Parklands Athletics, Triathlon 13. Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre Badminton, Powerlifting, Weightlifting, Wrestling