Geelong will host its first officially sanctioned int'l cricket match as "part of a two-game package in Victoria for Australia’s Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka this summer." Cricket Australia confirmed the Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the opening match of the series on Feb. 17, before Geelong’s Simonds Stadium "stages an international fixture" on Feb. 19, for the first time since World Series Cricket. CA CEO James Sutherland said, “We’re committed to taking the game to as many parts of the country as possible and we continue to work with regional areas around Australia on how we can make this happen.” The series will conclude in Adelaide on Feb. 22 (AAP, 8/9).
QUEENSLAND BID: Queensland will bid to host Prince Harry's Invictus games in '18. Major Events Minister Kate Jones has announced the state "will seek to host the event on the Gold Coast using venues currently under construction for the Commonwealth Games," which will also be held in '18. Jones would not say how much hosting the event would cost but said that getting Prince Harry to the state would be "priceless." Jones said that it was a "state of origin battle to win the right to hold the games because NSW is also bidding for the event" (AAP, 8/8).
VIENNA BEACH VOLLEYBALL: The Int'l Volleyball Federation (FIVB) announced Austrian capital Vienna as host of its flagship Beach Volleyball World Championships in '17. The 11th edition of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships will take place from July 28 to Aug. 6 and will involve 48 women and men's teams competing over a total of 208 matches. At the heart of the event will be the Center Court, a stadium on Donauinsel island in Vienna. This will be surrounded by a Beach Village offering public viewing and exhibitions for fans. In the evening, the venue will transform into an event area (FIVB).
