Oceania Masters Championships 2008

	competition venue Townsville Sports Reserve The venue for the 2008 Oceania Masters Athletics Championships is the majestic Townsville Sports Reserve. Situated less then 1 kilometre from the popular Strand (Townsville Beach front) and 2 kilometres from the Townsville Central Business District, the Townsville Sports Reserve is one of the premier Track and Field venues in Australia. Facilities include an IAAF certified synthetic 8 lane, 400-metre track, which is able to facilitate all field events including pole vault, long jump, javelin, shot put, hammer, discus and high jump; track and field lighting to 200lux; a three lane warm up straight separate to the main track; a second oval for warming up; change rooms, toilets, showers, canteen with full catering facilities and licensed bar; electronic timing system; disabled access, and seating capacity for approximately 1,500 spectators, as well as plenty of seating under shady trees. The Townsville Sports Reserve has hosted a number of prestige championships including the 1996 and 2004 Oceania Athletics Championships, and the 2005 Oceania Grand Prix. It is also the chosen venue for primary and secondary school athletics championships in the Townsville region, as well as being the home of the annual Athletics North Queensland Championships – The Number One track and field event in North Queensland, which annually attracts over 500 competitors, from within Australia and the Oceania region. The 2005 ANQ Championships hosted several World Class athletes chasing 2006 Commonwealth Games qualifying performances. The city of Townsville and the Townsville Sports Reserve has also been a preferred venue for numerous athletes in the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Athletes included Denmark's 800 metre World Record holder Wilson Kipketer. The Sports Reserve has also been used as a training venue for the Australian Paralympics team in 2003, in the lead up to the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.