Latest News

Arafura Dreaming for Manuel
Thursday 4 May

With only one day to go until the official Opening Ceremony of the 2011 Arafura Games the excitement amongst participants, athletes, spectators and stage acts has reached another level.

Saltwater Band lead singer Manuel Nulupani Dhurrkay said he couldn't wait to perform his 'Arafura Anthem' – a remake of ‘Arafura Sea’ – for the first time live on stage.

"I'm really excited – the Opening Ceremony is going to be very special for me," he said.
"For years I've dreamt about singing on this stage - and now it's happening in a duet with the best female singer in the Northern Territory, Jess Mauboy.
“I'm feeling very proud and excited."

Dhurrkay yesterday joined Jessica Mauboy and Tiwi Islands band B2M for rehearsals for the ceremony held at TIO Stadium on Saturday 7 May at 6.30pm.

B2M front man Jeffrey 'Yellow' Simon said he was looking forward to "a great night".
"It will be spectacular to perform in front of such a big crowd," he said.

Gates for the Arafura Games Opening Ceremony at TIO Stadium open at 4pm, action starts at 6pm with an aerial show by the RAAF Roulettes.
Tickets are available at the Darwin Entertainment Centre www.darwinentertainment.com.au and at the gates.

Righ here, right now, Macau
Wednesday 3 May

In the lead-up to the 2011 Arafura Games more and more international athletes have started to arrive in Darwin – with Macau bringing in their first contingent competitors on a charter plane on Wednesday.

More than 100 Macau athletes – including triathletes, tenpin bowlers, table tennis players and volleyball players – were all smiles upon landing in Darwin.

“I love being back in Darwin,” Macau triathlon coach Kenta Ando, 34, said.

“It’s the fifth time I’m coming to the Arafura Games, and I am really excited about being here,” he said.

“It means a lot to our team to be part of the Games and we are hoping for a good competition in which we achieve a lot.”

Seventeen-year-old tenpin bowler Patrincia Hui said she was really nervous about the 2011 Arafura Games.

“It’s the first time I’m in Australia and the first time I’ll be competing in such a big event,” she said.

“I don’t know yet what to expect, but I am looking forward to the competition. I’ll be trying my best to get good results.”

Another contingent of athletes from Macau is due to arrive at Darwin airport on Thursday afternoon.

More than 40 nations will be competing in the 20 sporting events at the 2011 Arafura Games. 

PNG score first touchdown for 2011 Arafura Games
Tuesday 2 May

The first team of international athletes has arrived in Darwin for the 2011 Arafura Games.

With less than five days to go until the official opening of the biennial, week-long sporting event 11 competitors and seven team official from the Papua New Guinea volleyball team last night landed in Darwin.

 “We’re very excited about the Games – we’ve been looking forward to it for quite a while,” team captain Ravu Mahuru, 27, said.

“We’ve trained very hard for 15 weeks and all the boys are ready – we’re going to win,” he said.

The Papua New Guinea team will be playing its first test match against the Northern Territory’s team on Thursday at 6.30pm.

NT volleyball team captain John Pattemore said his team was “very very much looking forward to playing PNG again”.

“Their style of play is very quick and dynamic, which not only makes them very effective, but very exciting for spectators to watch,” he said.

“We’re also looking forward to seeing a rematch between South Adelaide and PNG – their last match was the best and closest of the tournament in the 2009 Arafura Games.”

The 2011 Arafura Games volleyball competition starts on Sunday 8 May and will see eight men’s teams – including Macau, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste – and six women’s teams compete against each other.

A total of more than 2,400 from 41 nations will be competing in the 20 sports of this year’s Games.

Australian legendary band Icehouse and Darwin singing sensation Jessica Mauboy will be performing in a spectacular Opening Ceremony on Saturday 7 May to officially open the 2011 Arafura Games.

Tickets for the ceremony are available at the Darwin Entertainment Centre www.darwinentertainment.com.au, Nightcliff Newsagency, CMAX Cinema in Palmerston and Tourism Top End Visitor Information Centre.