Blacktown City Independent BCI 33 December 2023 | Page 4

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LOCAL LIFE

Blacktown City ’ s $ 100-million

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM today joined Olympic champion , Cathy Freeman OAM ( pictured below ), to officially open the Blacktown Exercise , Sports and Technology ( BEST ) Hub .

The newly constructed $ 100-million BEST is fully-funded by Blacktown City Council – and sits within the Blacktown

International Sports Park , venue for the Sydney 2000 Olympics softball and baseball competitions .

BEST provides state-of-the-art facilities for training , sports medicine , rehabilitation , research and education as well as providing accommodation , a large café-restaurant and an innovative fun play space for kids of all ages and abilities . Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale said ; “ BEST is a $ 100-million investment in the health and future of the communities of Blacktown City and Western Sydney .

“ BEST is a gamechanger for sports in Western Sydney providing the very best facilities in sports sciences , training and rehabilitation .

“ BEST was designed in collaboration with partners ; the Australian Catholic University ( ACU ), Sydney West Sports Medicine , AFLNSW and WentWest .” Mayor Bleasdale said .

In opening BEST today , Cathy Freeman said , “ If this facility was here when I was a kid , without a doubt I would be here every day with my stepfather training and making the most of these facilities .

“ I love the fact that there is such diverse community in Blacktown City , including a vast First Nations community who will be able to use BEST and make it work . Best provides an opportunity and value for the community to connect , Cathy Freeman said .

ACU ’ s Exercise and Sports Science and High-Performance Sport programs are now located within BEST , utilising Australia ’ s most innovative integrated sport , health and education precinct .

ACU Vice-Chancellor and President , Professor Zlatko Skrbis said ; “ Our partnership with Blacktown City Council ’ s BEST has produced an invaluable resource for Blacktown and Western Sydney .

“ BEST has the capability to provide injury recovery and treatment , accommodation , active lifestyle engagement , exercise and Sport Science education and research in one place which is invaluable for our students and staff .” Professor Skrbis said .

Blacktown City Council is fortunate in having Dr Neil Gibson as the Project Director at BEST .

Neil was responsible for the design and development of Scotland ’ s Sports Performance Centre , Oriam . He has been a consultant to both the Scottish and English Football Associations , as well as Scotland ’ s Commonwealth Games teams .

“ Neil is widely regarded as among the best in the world in his field and we

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To enter send an email to info @ hdinews . com . au put “ Alice In Wonderland ” in the subject line and tell us why you would like to see the production . Please leave us your name , suburb and phone number for contact purposes .

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4 ISSUE 33 // DECEMBER 2023 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS ! theindependentmagazine . com . au BLACKTOWN CITY INDEPENDENT