Adelaide will host the 2027 School Sport Australia Games, with more than 5,000 athletes, officials and supporters expected to travel to South Australia for what organisers say will be the biggest edition of the event ever staged.
Running from July 22 to 30, the Games will bring together the nation’s best school-aged athletes across at least nine sports, while generating an estimated $7 million for the South Australian economy.
The announcement comes as the South Australian Aquatic & Leisure Centre (SAALC) undergoes a $23 million upgrade aimed at ensuring the Marion facility remains one of the world’s leading aquatic and leisure centres.
Competition will be held across several major Adelaide venues, including SAALC, the State Basketball Centre, Mate Stadium, Lights Community and Sports Centre and ServiceFM Stadium.
Sports confirmed for the Games include Australian Rules football, football (soccer), basketball, netball, hockey, volleyball, bowls, swimming and diving.
The current redevelopment at SAALC will continue throughout the remainder of the year and includes upgrades to the leisure pool, learn-to-swim pool and 50-metre competition pool.
Since opening 16 years ago, the centre has welcomed more than 17 million visits and has contributed more than $156 million to South Australia’s economy through major events, tourism, employment and local spending. It has also helped prepare athletes who have collectively won more than 143 medals across the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games and world championship events.
The latest works follow an earlier stage of improvements, which included upgrades to the indoor 55-metre diving pool and dive tower, refurbishment of the 25-metre program pool and spa, changeroom improvements, and upgrades to the steam, sauna and waterslide facilities.
To reduce disruption during construction, reciprocal memberships remain available between SAALC and the Adelaide Aquatic Centre, allowing members to continue accessing aquatic facilities while works are completed.
Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing Rhiannon Pearce said “I’m really pleased to welcome the 2027 School Sport Australia Games to Adelaide and am looking forward to seeing all the amazing young athletes from across the country compete and enjoy their time in South Australia.”
“Events like this showcase our amazing state and highlight why we need our premier venues like the SAALC properly maintained so they remain a drawcard for local, national and international training and competition.”
School Sport Australia Executive Officer Phil Reeves said the Games had evolved since their inception.
“The School Sport Australia Games have evolved into much more than national championships. They have become one of Australia’s premier youth sporting festivals, bringing together competition, education, inclusion, wellbeing and community engagement in a truly unique national event,” he said.
