The federal government will pump $6 million into Australian netball to fund the 2027 World Cup.
The Diamonds, who defeated England in last year’s final to win the world title in South Africa, will defend their crown on home turf in Sydney.
Netball Australia and World Netball are also pushing for the sport’s inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
The funding package, part of the May federal budget, is a show of commitment to the tournament and strengthens the government’s investment in women’s sport, Sports Minister Anika Wells said.
The Diamonds, who defeated England in last year’s final to win the world title in South Africa, will defend their crown on home ground in Sydney
“The Albanian government’s $6 million investment will help deliver an exceptional Netball World Cup in 2027, and generate more opportunities for more future diamonds,” Wells said in a statement.
“Netball has the highest participation rates for women and girls in Australian sport and their participation drives health, social and economic benefits, as well as the Government’s gender equality agenda.
“Our $6 million funding further demonstrates our commitment to investing in women and girls, building on the $85 million invested for last year’s Women’s World Cup, the 2022 Women’s Basketball World Cup and the $200 million Play Our Way fund dollars for women’s and girls’ sports. infrastructure.’
Netball Australia has slowly turned its financial fortunes around following the fallout from COVID-19 and the loss of a major sponsor.
The organisation’s new chairman, former Diamonds captain Liz Ellis, said the funding would guarantee the staging of the best World Cup in history.
The federal government will pump $6 million into Australian netball to fund the 2027 World Cup
Sydney hosted the quadrennial tournament in 2015, the third time for Australia since the first World Cup in 1963.
“We thank the Federal Government for their continued support of netball and the 2027 Netball World Cup,” Ellis said.
“The Super Netball League is the best competition in the world, the Origin Australian Diamonds are the No. 1 team and defending World Cup champions, and the 2027 Netball World Cup will be the best ever.”
