National Primary Games: Sixth edition set to go ahead in Tamworth this weekend

The wet weather had threatened to force the Northern Inland Academy of Sport to cancel the second weekend of the multi-sport festival (the gymnastics component was held last weekend) with a number of the playing fields they were going to be using closed.

But with the assistance of Tamworth Regional Council they were able to scrounge enough to go ahead.

"Pack your bags, we are on", the post on the NPG Facebook page informing participants of the news, started.

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After the rain overnight on Thursday, Cooper and his team were inundated with calls and messages, the CEO joking that his phone was like a hotline with people trying to find out whether the games were still on.

He thanked council, particularly sport and recreation manager Paul Kelly, for their support and "appetite to make it work".

"Council have been great," he said.

The soccer and under-8, 9 and 12 divisions of the rugby league have been the most impacted with alternate venues needed to be found.

Fortunately they haven't had to reshuffle everything with the netball and rugby union games right to be played at their original venues.

Now in it's sixth year the event will see primary-school age teams from Newcastle, west to Dubbo, Orange, Mudgee, the mid and north coast, and around the region descend on Tamworth.

"We had a great response," Cooper said.

"I was really quite nervous to be honest. I didn't know whether people would be keen to travel after COVID."

"But we had north of 60 teams nominate in the soccer, 50 in the rugby league and 55 in the netball (not counting any Greater Sydney teams).

Cooper, who will finish up as CEO at the end of the month to become the Wests Entertainment Group's deputy chief executive officer, believes one of the attractions of the event is its "unique nature" being a multi-sport festival.

"On top of that is the fact that it's inclusive not exclusive," he added.

Participants will also have the chance to meet Newcastle Jets co-captain and Matilda Gema Simon, who will be around the grounds over the weekend as the special guest.

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