A great story in the Australasian Leisure Management magazine on Play Hard Sports Equipment (PHS) behind-the-scenes experience of supplying IAAF accredited athletics track and field assets to Cockram Construction Australia Pty Ltd (Queensland division) for the XXI Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Gold Coast-based sports equipment manufacturer Play Hard has shared its behind-the-scenes experience of supplying athletics track and field assets for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Appointed at what Play Hard Sports Equipment Brand and Marketing Consultant Steve Dart says was the “eleventh hour” by lead contractor Cockram Constructions Queensland Pty Ltd (CCQ) to the Carrara Precinct Project – the major event and sporting hub during the XXI Games – the project goal was to temporarily transform the existing Carrara’s Metricon Stadium and adjacent elite fields, into an IAAF compliant athletics track and field competition and warm up facility.
The venue also hosted Games test event as well as the opening and closing ceremonies for the Games.
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation (GOLDOC) engaged CCQ to deliver the design and construction of the project labeled Carrara Overlay Development, with Play Hard Sports, was part of the sports fixtures tender process.
However, as Dart recalls “after submitting the sports equipment proposal to multiple building companies, the wait for reply went on for many weeks.”
With CCQ finally engaged to deliver the design and construction of the project including operational services during the event period, Play Hard sought to find out the status of the sports equipment decision. Play Hard advised that a decision was pending, but it was looking that a recent presentation to CCQ by international track and field construction Mondo International was looking favourable and the contract was about to be signed.
Concerned at this, Play Hard contacted GOLDOC and presented a great case on the leading design and construction capabilities of the new IAAF accredited Thor 10 hammer discus cage – that was receiving great acclaim from sports venues and athletics clubs around Australia – who were acquiring the asset for in stadium, school and club level athletics meet.
GOLDOC decided that PHS had a case to be heard and advised CCQ to meet with Play Hard, and for Play Hard to present to their lead procurement team on the athletics throw cage benefits.
Play Hard business owner Trevor Bowman (and Thor 10 cage designer) and Steve Dart traveled to Brisbane and presented on the benefits of the Thor 10 hammer discus cage.
Days after the meeting CCQ advised Play Hard that the decision had been made to exclude the Mondo hammer discus cage from the track and field build and place the Thor 10 in its place.
As Dart advised “his decision was virtually made on the 11th hour of the main Mondo contract signing” with Play Hard supplying the two IAAF accredited Thor 10 hammer discus cages displayed in the main stadium and external warm up track.
During the 2018 Australian Athletics Championships and the 2018 Games competition, Play Hard provided ongoing support with multiple installations and removal of the main track cage, before and after the 2018 Australian Athletics Championships, the Commonwealth Games competition days and closing ceremony – in accordance with specified transition time frames.
During the course of the Games, Play Hard supplied 26 different sporting products to GOLDOC most of which were custom designs such as volleyball player’s shelters, beach volleyball observation chairs, athletic implement vehicles – remote controlled vehicles used for implement transport back to the athletes, hockey player shelters and technical bench, mountain biking padding, podium transport boxes, and boxing stand bell (stand only).
In the course of supplying products, Play Hard engaged multiple material suppliers and service providers, many of which were located on the Gold Coast.
Commenting on working with Play Hard Sports, CCQ Project Manager Geoff Walters stated “it was an absolute pleasure to work with Trevor Bowman and the great team at PHS, who collaborated effortlessly and displayed superior responsiveness and great teamwork to deliver this project without any delays.
“We have really enjoyed working with such a dynamic cohesive team and look forward to more great partnerships in the future”.
The Thor design cages are unique in the world for being:
• Australian designed and manufactured
• IAAF certified
• Black netting dropped or raised at any time – 300kg breaking strain – 5mm thick and UV stable – Cyclone 2 / Hurricane 1 wind rating
• Remains erected all season for greater usability for the athlete with 24/7 training
• Greater visibility of the athlete for viewing public and media
• Fewer implement strikes with the 4-pole superstructure frame away from netting
• Easy installation with hand winch (no machinery required)
• Visually aesthetic to match stadium modern characteristics
• Accommodated Broadcast camera positioning
• Visually aesthetic for international broadcasting
• 10-year superstructure guarantee
Play Hard acknowledges its suppliers, without whom it could not have of provided its outstanding contribution to the Games.
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