1996 World Junior Championships remembered

24 August 2020

1996 World Junior Championships remembered

Six days of competition, 143 countries, 1080 athletes, 295 media and 40,216 spectators. They were impressive numbers for the 1996 World Junior Championships held at Homebush 24-years-ago this week. It was easily the largest World Athletics competition to be held in Australia. We remember the many NSW officials, volunteers, administrators and athletes who were involved.

In 1996, the Olympics were just four years away and the championships were used as an early test event for a few of the functional areas for the Sydney Olympics. For the athletes, many were expected to return to Australia four years on at the Sydney Olympics.

There were many challenging aspects, not least that the athletes were housed in hotels in Darling Harbour and transported to competition and training at Homebush by ferries and river cats. Hotel rooms had been timed to become available as teams were due to arrive, according to there advised schedule, but unfortunately some countries arrived early, causing a scramble for beds.

The work for local organising committee (LOC) and functional areas, housed in the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games in Kent Street, was enormous. In addition to planning the event, they managed nearly 300 media and liaised with many of the local communities of the 143 competing nations.

Chair of the LOC was Sydney engineer Phil O’Hara and other notable members were Nick Moore and Christine Windeyer of Sydney University, Rosemary Owens, Denis Wilson and 1956 Olympian Ross Parker. Headquarters staff included Athletics NSW CEO Kirin Lindop, Hockey Australia CEO Matt Favier, Brian Roe, CGA Marketing & Comms GM David Culbert, Sydney 2000 T&F Manager Bill Bailey and David Tarbotton.

Dozens of others were on the Project Committees, here are some NSW people, many who are still involved in the sport.

Accommodation & Team Services – Lorraine Morgan, Marguerite Gregan and Greg Dyer (Australian cricket team wicketkeeper)

Administration Services – Jan & Rod Gibb, Rob McDonald and Mark Jones (former athlete & Socceroos doctor)

Ceremonial and Hospitality – Greg Bowman (Great Big Events) and Clive Lee (Aths NSW Executive Director)

Event Promotion and Media Services – Mike Hurst, Di Holden-Ainsworth, Di Fielding and David Tarbotton

Venue Management – Nick Moore, Michael O’Mara, John Murray and Katherine Rae

Technical and Officials – Ian White and Vern Hough

Team Liaison Officers – Chelsea Andrews, Dennis & Ellen Coker, Alex Crawford, Chris Jones, Robyn Winn, Stephanie Price and James Templeton.

The largest group were of course the technical officials & assistants. Many familiar NSW names were:

Announcer – Ted Simmons

TIC Coordinator – Ian White; staff Rob Blackadder, Sue Newton, John Morris & Lorraine Haddrick.

Technical Judges – Vern Hough

Photo finish – Janet Nixon

Track Judges – Laurie Keaton, Jill Huxley

Field Judges – Peter Reynolds, Fred O’Connor, Bev Jaye, Don Allen and Bob Mitchell

Starters & start line crew – Geoff Martin, Allan Kay & Ron Keys

Umpires – Ross Forster, Heather Mitchell, Heather Jones & Tony Vecellio

Referees – Graham Dwight

On the track, three future NSW Olympians competed including Grant Cremer, Matt Shirvington and Natalie Saville. Six NSW athletes won medals: Rosemary Hayward (two bronze 400m & 4x400 relay), Clay Cross (bronze shot put), Grant Cremer (bronze 800m), Josephine Fowley (bronze 4x400m relay), Jason Snell and Peter Missingham (bronze 4x100m).

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Images: bronze medallists 4x400m relay – Rosemary Hayward & Josephine Fowley (NSW), Tamsyn Lewis and Jennifer Marshall (Vic).