Arafura Games 2009
The Darts Federation of Australia (DFA) is getting right behind the Arafura Games. The Northern Territory Darts Council (NTDC) started the darts flying by applying to the organising committee to have the sport of darts involved in the Games. After a rigorous selection process darts has been accepted. The Arafura Games is a leading international sporting competition for emerging champions of the Asia Pacific region. Held every two years in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, the Arafura Games is billed as a meeting of 'Sporting Neighbours' and attracts developing athletes from the Asia Pacific region and beyond.

The Arafura Games 2009 again promises exciting competition in 27 sports at international standard venues. Darwin's Marrara Sporting Complex boasts a collection of quality sporting venues in one area, hosting over 15 sports. All other Games venues are within 15 minutes travel time from Marrara creating a unique village feel to the whole Games.

Arafura Games 2009 will provide a pathway for the future champions of the Asia Pacific as we not only compete and create friendships, but also share and learn from our collective sporting knowledge.

Darts players have been inviterd to Darwin for May 2009 and look forward to being involved in one of the highlights of the Asia Pacific sporting calendar - the Arafura Games, 9 - 16 May 2009. The NTDC will be organising the events and working hard to get as many Teams as they can from overseas into Darwin to compete. Not confirmed yet, but the venue where the darts will be played could be the SkyCity Casino.

The program of events set out is:

Arafura Games Program
Friday, 8 May 2009	Social Drawn Doubles	10:00 AM
Saturday, 9 May 2009	Opening Ceremony
Sunday, 10 May 2009	Teams Event	10:00 AM
Monday, 11 May 2009	Teams Event	10:00 AM
Tuesday, 12 May 2009	Rest Day	10:00 AM
Wednesday, 13 May 2009	Teams Event	10:00 AM
Thursday, 14 May 2009	Mixed Doubles / Ladies & Men’s Pairs	10:00 AM
Friday, 15 May 2009	Singles Event	10:00 AM
Saturday, 16 May 2009	Closing Ceremony

After the hard work put in place by Lynn O'Brian and the NTDC to have darts accepted into the Arafura Games, they presented a paper to the DFA at the Annual General Meeting held in Geelong. Coming out from the discussions at the AGM, the DFA has decided to send a team to Arafura Games. One of the conditions on players participating is that they are aged between 15 and 25 years. The players to be given the opportunity to represent Australia at the Arafura Games will be selected firstly from players under the age of 25 representing their states at the Australian Darts Championships in Geelong this year. It has also been proposed that a second Team to represent Australia will come from the Australian Junior Championships. A Team of under 18 years players will be selected by the selectors at the Junior Championships and sent to Darwin to compete as well. There were also discusions about other teams entering. Each State and Territory has also been granted the opportunity to send acontingent of up to 20 players/officials. Full Teams will consist of four female and four male players.

About the Games
Arafura Games 2009 sports unveiled
The Northern Territory Government announced the line up of sports selected for Arafura Games 2009 with two new sports, Darts and Muaythai, added to the competition for the first time.

Minister for Sport and Recreation, Kon Vatskalis, said 27 sports have been included in the next Arafura Games with the Oceania Open Paralympic Championships also returning to the competition.

"The Arafura Games is the premier sporting event of the Territory and it is growing bigger and better every year," said Mr Vatskalis.

"An important part of our great lifestyle, the Games is about strengthening relationships with our Asian neighbours, bringing top class sporting competition to the Top End and showcasing emerging champions of the Asia Pacific region.

"Arafura Games has really become focused on becoming a quality sporting event. We reduced the number of sports from 30 to 23 in 2007 to increase and ensure quality competition.

"Following the success of the last Games we have now increased the competition back up to 27 sports, including two new ones - Darts and Muaythai."

The sports included in Arafura Games 2009 are - Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Boxing, Football (Soccer), Hockey, Sepak Takraw, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Darts, Muaythai, Beach Volleyball, Clay Target Shooting, IPSC Pistol Shooting, Softball (Women), Cycling - road only, Golf, ISSF Pistol / Air Rifle, International Life Saving, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Squash, Tennis, Tenpin Bowling, Triathlon

Mr Vatskalis said the selected sports went through a rigorous selection process.
"The sports had to satisfy Games organisers that they will be able to achieve a genuine international field and high standard of competition," he said.

Fundamental Principles
Emerging Champions
The Arafura Games focuses on athletes who are on the way up, striving to compete at their highest level. The Games provides a key stepping stone for athletes aspiring to represent their countries at the pinnacle of their sport. Competition is offered to regional and development athletes as well as national teams to experience the thrill and excitement of a high quality international sporting event.

Sporting Neighbours
Countries of the Asia Pacific region are invited to come together to compete in a friendly sporting environment, applications from countries further afield are also welcomed. The Arafura Games provides a pathway through which friendship, goodwill and cultural understanding between competing nations can strengthen and flourish.

Sharing Knowledge
The Arafura Games not only offers an international sporting competition for developing athletes, it also offers similar benefits to coaches, administrators, officials and other support staff. Opportunities such as the International Sport Conference as well as accredited coaching and officiating courses are offered during the Games week. The Arafura Games welcomes any requests for such services from visiting countries. Darts will be offering a seminar on the Darts Federation of Australia Coaching Program

History
From its humble beginnings, the Arafura Games is now recognised as a leading international sporting competition for the developing athletes of the Asia Pacific region. Held every two years in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory, the Games is billed as a meeting of "Sporting Neighbours" and attracts competitors from all parts of Australia, nations throughout the Asia Pacific and beyond.

The Arafura Games began in 1991 as the Arafura Sports Festival with 1500 participants from seven countries competing in 13 sports. By the time the eighth Games were held in 2005, participation had soared to more than 3,000 athletes representing 32 nations, with competition in 30 sports. Over the years, tens of thousands of athletes, spectators, officials and volunteers have been involved.

Doping Control
Athletes and support personnel should be aware the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) may conduct testing during the Arafura Games for the use of prohibited substances and prohibited doping methods. All athletes and support personnel must be familiar with the relevant Anti-Doping Provisions for their sports and comply with these and the testing procedures.

Website
You can visit the Arafura Games Website at http://www.arafuragames.net/ to find out more about the games. This website will be setting up a special link for darts shortly which will cover all information in regards to the Games.

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Arafura Games Format - Darts

Team Composition: 4 men and/or 4 women

Classifications: Under 25's

Restrictions: For Under 25's team members must be under 25 years of age as at 1st May 2009. (Minimum age of 15)

Format: Teams Event will include singles, doubles and team game.
Doubles Event - Ladies Double and Men's Double
Mixed Doubles Event
Singles Event

The day before Arafura Games starts we will run a social drawn doubles event open to anyone (if venue is available) as an ice breaker and a chance for people to meet informally.

Playing Rules Events will be run according to DFA playing rules, which are affiliated with WDF playing rules.

Ranking: For the inaugural event we will not be running a ranked event in conjunction with the Arafura Games. Hopefully we will have either a DFA or WDF ranked singles event after the conclusion of the Arafura Games.

Team Nominations: To be confirmed with Adrian and Amanda as to whether Arafura Games have a specific date that nominations have to be in by.

Nomination Fees: At this stage no fee to be charged to Australian teams - Definitely no charge for overseas teams.