‘Other’ Sydney Spectaculars – Page 4

Sydney Opera House & Central Station To Light Up Green & Gold For Matildas FIFA Women’s World Cup Round Of 16 Match

Correction: The original article implied the Central Station Clock Tower will be lit green & gold. It actually will be lit just gold.

From next Monday at 6pm. the Sydney Opera House as well as the Central Station Clock Tower & Concourse will be lit green & gold (the former just gold) in support of the Matildas in their Round Of 16 match against Denmark in the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023.

This will not mean the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 will be redesignated as an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular as the illuminations are focused on 1 team & not all the teams/the event itself.

The New South Wales (NSW) Government’s social media will also turn green & gold for that match day. The NSW Government is also encouraging its citizens to follow suit by wearing those colours that day as well.

Messages of support will also be displayed on screens at public transport stops as well as at over 100 Service NSW centres.

This is clearly a belated move by the NSW Government, especially after they did the same thing during the men’s tournament & with the encouragement of its citizens to wear the colours of Australia as well as dressing up its social media, public transport stops & their main customer-facing government agency reeks of desperation.

Whilst it is very understandable the NSW Government under new Premier Chris Minns is trying to save money by reducing projections & illuminations, the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 was one of the very few events that deserved to be treated like a mega event should be.

The lack of activation in Sydney of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 was criticised last week by the NSW Opposition Leader, a City Of Sydney Liberal councillor & Robbie Slater, former Socceroo.

In a statement released on Wednesday (which can be read in full at the bottom of this post), the NSW Premier claimed “Sydney has come alive” & are “taking this to the next level”. This is despite the Rugby World Cup – Australia 2003 Final featured a 3-minute Sydney Harbour fireworks display including the Bridge (with Effect) & 2 barges after the match (There are no plans for such an event after the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final)

Rugby World Cup – Australia 2003 sponsors also boosted the community’s spirit by ‘taking over’ Sydney CBD pubs, bars, Rugby Union clubs, transport hubs & shopping centres (Unlike FIFA & their sponsors who are only focused on the amount of exclusive brand exposure). Garden beds were also decorated in the Sydney central business district & a rugby union-themed projection show on a Circular Quay building also featured during the Rugby World Cup – Australia 2003 (the latter during the tournament’s latter half). And let’s not forget the 2-week sporting party that was The Games Of The XXVIIth Olympiad – Sydney 2000!

So much for “alive” & “next level” this month-long FIFA Women’s World Cup…

Regardless, the NSW Government also revealed 4000 people attended the FIFA Fan Festival in Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour to watch the Matildas defeat Olympic champions, Canada, in determination after their 3-2 loss to Nigeria.

They also revealed 118,000 people have attended that Festival in Tumbalong Park up to last Wednesday the 2nd of August – about 9,000 people per day – while the overall main tournament is receiving 82,000 visitors per event day – the largest sporting event hosted in Sydney since The Games of the XXVIIth Olympiad: 2000 – nearly double the 45,000 visitors per event day expected. Based on the current tournament’s attendance, the Fan Festival is performing below expectations but based on the previous tournament’s attendance, it is doing better than expected.

The sporting side is a success, but the community engagement/activation is relatively poor for Sydney. At this rate, it looks like Sydney’s events are no longer about bringing the community together but about bringing the money together & mega events are not memorable for that alone.

The Matildas compete against Denmark in their Round Of 16 match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 on Monday the 7th of August at 8:30pm AEST at Stadium Australia, Sydney.

The Final will be held at the same venue on Sunday the 20th of August 2023 at 8pm AEST.

We are so proud of the Matildas making the final 16. We are celebrating this achievement by turning Sydney green & gold next Monday.

NSW is proud to be part of this World Cup & we are so proud of what the Matildas have achieved so far. Sydney has come alive & we are taking this to the next level. Let’s take the Matildas to the next round.
NSW Premier, Chris Minns

The Matildas kicked off their campaign in Sydney in front of a record crowd of 75,000 people, and we can’t wait to see another packed house at Stadium Australia.

I encourage everyone to don the green and gold, get to the game or a community fan site, to witness this once in a lifetime opportunity.
NSW Sports Minister, Steve Kamper

It’s been fantastic to see so much support for the Matildas from across the NSW community.

We are incredibly proud of their achievements & of the role our NSW representatives have played in getting the team this far.

We are excited to see the state turn green and gold on Monday & look forward to the ongoing implementation of the NSW Football Legacy Program to ensure we can cater for the next generation of female football stars.
Football NSW Chief Executive Officer, John Tsatsimas

NSW Opposition Leader Says NSW Premier “Dropped The Ball” On Activating Sydney During The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

According to The Daily Telegraph, the New South Wales (NSW) Opposition Leader, Mark Speakman, says NSW Premier, Chris Minns, has “dropped the ball” on activating Sydney during the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023.

The NSW Opposition Leader represents about a 3rd of New South Wales electors.

It comes after Sydney Spectaculars, in early April, undesignated the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 from being an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular after finding no evidence of an attempt to put on a Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks, light, projection or drone show for the Final, nearly 3 years after winning the bid to host the Final & with less than 5 months until that event.

Given this is only a month after the NSW State Election, an equal amount of blame should be placed on the Opposition, who were in Government before the said election, as an event of this magnitude requires more than 6 months of planning for a Sydney Spectacular to be held. However, we cannot be sure if FIFA overruled them in any respect.

Last week, a City of Sydney Liberal Councillor, Lyndon Gannon, as well as former Socceroo, Robbie Slater, criticised the City of Sydney & the NSW Government respectively for not treating the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 as the “once in a generation” event as it is – 5 days into the month-long tournament. This was mainly in regards to street activations, banners & live sites.

The Rugby World Cup – Australia 2003, which was the next largest international sporting event Sydney has hosted, had 4 live sites during the tournament in Sydney alone – at Tumbalong Park, The Rocks, the Sydney Opera House & The Overflow at Sydney Olympic Park while a 5th live site was set up in The Domain for the Final, after the Wallabies made it to that match. Rugby World Cup 2003 sponsors also ‘took over’ Sydney pubs, bars, Rugby Union clubs, transport hubs & shopping centres turning Sydney into 1 big Rugby Union festival.

The FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 only has the sole FIFA Fan Festival live site at Tumbalong Park as well as 2 live sites, not FIFA-run, in Parramatta & Blacktown. The Final also has live sites, not FIFA-run, in Marrickville & Randwick.

It should be noted that the City of Sydney has no control over Sydney Harbour, it’s Bridge & the Opera House despite hosting Sydney New Year’s Eve annually. The NSW Government has sole final control.

Sydney hosts the Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 on Sunday the 20th of August 2023.

Tom Cruise Lights Up Darling Harbour For ‘Mission: Impossible 7 – Dead Reckoning: Part 1’ Australian Premiere

It’s very rare for a celebrity to light up fireworks on Sydney Harbour and there have been a few – Kylie Minogue, Reg Mombassa & Kermit The Frog come to mind – but on July 3rd 2023, American acting icon, Tom Cruise, joined that very exclusive list & on his birthday too!

Part of the red-carpet lead-up to the Australian premiere of the latest film of his beloved Mission: Impossible franchise, it was a short 1-minute display set to the theme of the franchise with fireworks firing from Cockle Bay and near the International Convention Centre, where the latest film of the franchise was premiered in Australia in its theatre shortly after the fireworks.

The International Convention Centre during the Australian premiere of *Mission: Impossible 7 – Dead Reckoning: Part 1*
Photograph: International Convention Centre

Actors of the film, Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg & Pom Klementieff as well as the film’s director, Christopher McQuarrie, walked the red carpet along with 2,500 other people.

The red ‘carpet’
Photograph: International Convention Centre

The Australian Premiere itself was sold out

Inside the International Convention Centre shortly before the Australian premiere begun
Photograph: International Convention Centre

The fireworks display is the 1st time a fireworks display on Sydney Harbour has been done in coordination with a film premiere. Wonder how big the fireworks would have been if it was the world premiere?!

During Sydney New Year’s Eve 1996 – Mask A Sydney Face 9pm Family Fireworks, the theme to the original 1996 film of the franchise, Mission: Impossible, featured in the fireworks soundtrack. Richard Wilkins, co-host of that edition’s television broadcast, also co-hosted the Australian Premiere of the latest Mission: Impossible film.

The latest & penultimate film of the franchise, Mission: Impossible 7 – Dead Reckoning: Part 1, is now on in cinemas around the world.

Happy Birthday Tom Cruise, from Sydney!

Sydney Harbour Bridge Light ‘Testing’ Actually Decommissioning Of Vivid Sydney 2023 Lights

Sydney Spectaculars has received confirmation from Transport For New South Wales (NSW), who control the Sydney Harbour Bridge, that the lights we saw last week lit on the Sydney Harbour Bridge were lit as part of their decommissioning after this year’s Vivid Sydney.

Last Tuesday & Wednesday night, in the early evening, colourful lights were spotted being tested on the north-eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge underneath the catwalk.

We never expected lights, lit up at the same time for 2 nights in a row, were lit as part of their decommissioning but they are the facts.

You learn something new every day…

No Sydney Harbour Bridge Light Show For FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

Sydney Spectaculars has received confirmation from Transport For New South Wales (NSW), who control the Sydney Harbour Bridge, that there will be no light show, as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

This means the event definitely won’t be redesignated as an ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular.

Sydney Spectaculars undesignated the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 back on 5th April 2023 after finding no evidence of an attempt to put on a Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks, light, projection or drone show for the Final, nearly 3 years after winning the bid to host the Final & with less than 5 months until that event.

Last Tuesday & Wednesday night, in the early evening, colourful lights were spotted being tested on the north-eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge underneath the catwalk.

Colourful lights being tested on the Sydney Harbour Bridge (circled) Photograph: Webcam Sydney

Lights for New Year’s Eve have been tested months in advance in a similar manner before.

We followed up Transport For NSW’s statement with a query about what were those lights being tested for but have not received a response as of publication.

Last Friday night, around Midnight, people with torches were spotted scaling the north-eastern side of the upper arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, going from the north-eastern pylon up to the summit. We did not spot them descend so they might have descended down the southern side.

Last night, around 8:30pm, people with torches were spotted traversing over the north-western side of the upper arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge either as part of Bridge maintenance or roadwork has been scheduled from May to December this year. The people spotted are now highly likely to have been involved with Bridge maintenance.

There is no evidence of a Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks display for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final yet. Given it is less than 2 days to go until the event & with no evidence of a fireworks display anywhere on Sydney Harbour this Thursday, we can now rule out a major Sydney Harbour fireworks display as part of the Opening & ‘Inaugural’ Ceremonies to be held at Eden Park, Auckland & Stadium Australia, Sydney respectively as part of the lead up to the Opening & ‘Inaugural’ Matches (Football Ferns (New Zealand) Vs Norway & Matildas (Australia) Vs Republic Of Ireland) on Thursday at 4:30pm & 7:30pm Sydney time respectively with kick-off at 5pm & 8pm Sydney time respectively.

There is no evidence for a drone show so far.

Drone shows are also usually rehearsed off-site in a remote location in secret if it is for an important event, but they do require a 6-month approval process from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, which means an application would have needed to have been submitted by late February this year

The Final, also at Stadium Australia, is on Sunday the 20th of August 2023 with kick-off at 8pm Sydney time. The Final’s conclusion & trophy presentation is the only possible time for a major Sydney Harbour fireworks display and/or drone show, though it is unlikely, especially with a major light show now definitely ruled out.

Therefore, the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 will stay undesignated as an ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular, as it has been since 12th of April, unless we find evidence that a major Sydney Harbour fireworks display or drone show will take place in relation to the event.

After today’s stunning major event news about the XXIIIrd Commonwealth Games: 2026 from the neighbour state of Victoria, like we said in our article about our undesignating of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 from being an ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular, this all affects Australia hosting major events in the future like the men’s FIFA World Cup.

For comparison on the scale of the events, the FIFA Women’s World Cup has attendance of 45,000 per event day while the Commonwealth Games has an attendance of 108,000 per event day. The Men’s FIFA World Cup is 162,000 per event day. Refer to our article about our undesignating of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 from being an ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular to read the logic behind why an event with an attendance of only 45,000 per event day deserves to be treated like an ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular such as the Games Of The XXVIIth Olympiad (395,000 per event day) & the Rugby World Cup (66,000 per event day).

Major events are more than financial commercial products to make a profit from, they build social connections, improving health & contributing to the construction & maintenance of a society’s identity, character & culture. Victoria’s decision, completely financial, shows an underappreciation of the Commonwealth Of Nations, soft power and international relations as well as the promotion of sport, physical activity and their health benefits. Sydney or FIFA’s decision shows an underappreciation of Sydney Harbour, the Bridge, fireworks, lights, gender equality & the history and future of major events in Sydney.

Events in Australia are now facing a litmus test…

Secret Light Testing On The Sydney Harbour Bridge Spotted

Last Tuesday & Wednesday night, in the early evening, colourful lights were spotted being tested on the north-eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge underneath the catwalk.

With less than a week until the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, it could be interpreted as testing for a month-long themed light show on the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the event, returning the event as an ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular, the 1st since the International Fleet Review in October 2013.

Sydney Spectaculars yesterday sent queries to FIFA and their local event organising subsidiary & Transport For NSW, who control the Sydney Harbour Bridge. However, neither responded by time of writing.

We also contacted the lighting company who lights up the Sydney Harbour Bridge during Vivid Sydney, Mandylights, but they gave a curious ‘can’t confirm at this time’ response.

Last night, around Midnight, people with torches were spotted scaling the north-eastern side of the upper arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, going from the north-eastern pylon up to the summit. We did not spot them descend so they might have descended down the southern side.

Work on the Sydney Harbour Bridge either as part of Bridge maintenance or roadwork has been scheduled from May to December this year. The people spotted may have been involved with Bridge maintenance but if not, they were installing something in the dead of night – fireworks or lights – but at this stage, lights are more likely if they are not Bridge maintenance people.

Lights for New Year’s Eve have also been tested months in advance in a similar manner before too.

There is no evidence of a Sydney Harbour Bridge fireworks display for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023 yet. However, a light show has suddenly become a possibility. There is no evidence for a drone show so far.

Regardless of what those people were doing on the Bridge, something important was happening on the Bridge last night as people rarely climb the Bridge in the dead of the night unless it is nightworks, which in itself is rare, or to install fireworks or lights.

With less than a week to the event begins, the biggest sporting event Australia has hosted since the Rugby World Cup 2003, keep an eye on our blog in case any news breaks regarding Sydney Spectaculars.

A FIFA Fan Festival™ Live Site will open at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour at 4pm Thursday & open on match-days at various hours until 11pm, Sunday the 20th of August 2023.

A 10-minute Opening Ceremony, which will feature a live performance of the official event song with dancing & fireworks, will then be held at Eden Park, Auckland at 4:30pm Sydney time/6:30pm Auckland time. Following that, at 5pm Sydney time/7pm Auckland time, the Opening Match, the Football Ferns (New Zealand) Vs Norway, kicks off the tournament from Eden Park. Sunset in Sydney happens 7 minutes later.

After the Opening Match concludes, at Stadium Australia, Sydney, there will be a 10-minute ‘Inaugural Ceremony’ at 7:30pm Sydney time followed by the Matildas (Australia) opening their campaign against the Republic of Ireland at 8pm Sydney time from Stadium Australia. The Final, also at Stadium Australia, is on Sunday the 20th of August 2023 with kick-off at 8pm Sydney time.

If there is a month-long themed light show on the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Australia & New Zealand 2023, a 7:30pm ‘lights on!’ moment as part of the ‘Inaugural Ceremony’ is the most likely time for it to start. If not, sunset that day (5:07pm).

However, as there is no solid evidence linking the lights to the event, the event won’t be redesignated as an ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular just yet, but it is very possible now.

What will this week bring? Stay tuned!

Resilient QLD Avoid Late NSW Comeback To Win Women’s State Of Origin 2023 By 4 Points

Queensland 32-28 New South Wales (after 2 games)

Despite an energetic fightback by New South Wales at the start & end of Game 2, which they won 18-14, the resulting 4-point difference allowed Queensland to win Women’s State Of Origin 2023 by that amount.

The event begun 2 hours prior to kick-off, at 5:45pm, with a Queensland RISE Academy under-16’s women’s rugby league match between RISE Silver, Townsville & RISE Maroon, Mackay. The Academy, open to boys and girls, aims to give players the tools to reach their potential. RISE Silver won 24-12.

Game 2 begun with a musical act, building up the atmosphere for the record crowd of 18,275, in the 30 minutes to kick-off. This pre-match entertainment was not televised. The customary Welcome To Country, conducted by Uncle Brenton Creed & performance of the National Anthem, sung by Chantelle Anderson of the Australian Army, then followed and was televised. The Women’s State Of Origin shield was waiting on the sidelines.

Anyway, to the main game. New South Wales went out of the blocks fast with Tiana Penitani scoring the opening unconverted try in the 3rd minute, immediately halving their deficit, but unsuccessfully making the most of the opportunity. In the 10th minute, New South Wales were given a penalty, which enabled Jesse Southwell to score a goal to reduce the deficit to 2 points.

New South Wales’s hope of drawing the series by full time was high but Queensland found a gap in New South Wales’ defence allowing Tamika Upton to score Queensland’s 1st unconverted try of the match, moving Queensland’s advantage back to 6 points. An amazing sequence of teamwork and hand-eye coordination allowed Emily Bass to score Queensland’s only converted try in the 25th minute, extending their lead from Game 1 to 12 points.

Queensland’s Tarryn Aiken found, via a dummy pass, another gap in New South Wales’ defence allowing her to storm to another unconverted try, boosting their confidence of series victory to a high with a 16-point lead, double their deficit at the start of the match. At half-time, the score was 14-6 in favour of Queensland: 32-16 on aggregate also in Queensland’s favour.

During half-time, a Little Origin match was held between Southern Cross Catholic College & Annandale State School.

In the 2nd half, New South Wales made use of Queensland errors. Queensland left their right wing exposed allowing Tiana Penitani to score New South Wales an unconverted try in the 40th minute, bringing the deficit down to 12 points. 5 minutes later, Queensland’s Emma Manzelmann stripped the ball out of Sarah Togatuki of New South Wales’ hands, forcing a penalty, which New South Wales took advantage of by having Jesse Southwell successfully kick a goal to reduce the deficit by another 2 points to a 10-point deficit.

In a dramatic finish in the 68th minute, Yasmin Clydsdale of New South Wales attempted to score a try with the last grasps of her hands but in act of desperation, Shenae Ciesiolka kicked the ball out of her hands, prompting The Bunker to give a penalty try. New South Wales gained an extra 4 points, reducing the deficit to 6 points but critically, New South Wales wasted 51 seconds celebrating the penalty try before the conversion attempt. It was a miracle to get the penalty try, though Yasmin Clydsdale probably wouldn’t have scored the try if Shenae Ciesiolka had had not kicked it, due to her loose grip on the ball. The penalty try was worthy of celebrating but not that much as those precise seconds could have altered the series. The penalty try was then converted, stopping the clock at 17 seconds to go and reducing the deficit to 4 points but the final 17 seconds was not enough to reverse Queensland’s fortunes.

The successful conversions were kicked by Zahara Temara for Queensland & Jesse Southwell for New South Wales.

The final score of Game 2 was New South Wales 18-14 Queensland. Under the rules of the expanded Women’s State Of Origin, the winner of the series is the team with the highest aggregate points after Game 2 so Queensland won the series 32-28.

The series presentation followed on a stage in the field’s centre with Emma Lawrence as Master Of Ceremonies & Kate Jones, Australian Rugby League Commissioner, Andrew Abdo, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League & Tahnee Norris, Queensland coach waiting on the stage.

The winner of the Nellie Doherty Medal, awarded to the player of the series by the winning coach, was Tazmin Gray. She previously won it in 2021.

(chuckles) Woo! Ah, that’s weird. Um, firstly, I just wanna thank Queensland, the Queensland Government and the fans for coming out. If it wasn’t for you guys, we wouldn’t be able to play the game that we love. Um, to my friends, to my family, to my kids back home – this one’s for youse – I love youse and, um, I’ll see you soon.
Tazmin Gray, Queensland rugby league player

Uh, firstly, I’d just like to thank Townsville for hosting us. It’s been an amazing week, um, for us girls, coming up here, getting to view this beautiful town. We’d loved every minute of it. I’d also like to thank Ampol, Westpac & Harvey Norman. Without you guys, this wouldn’t be possible so um, we’re really grateful for your support every year.

Um, Queensland girls, it’s been a, a tough series. I hope this just pushes a little bit more for us to have the 3 games next year but you girls… (crowd cheers & claps) You girls did really well and deserved to have the series so congratulations to you.

To my girls, I love every single day that I get to spend with you in camp. It’s just like being a bunch of sisters. Our coaching staff, we’re a family that, you know, we’ll never be broken so I’m really proud of all of you tonight. We got the win, um, and I am just super proud so thank you, thank you everyone.
New South Wales co-captain, Isabelle Kelly

Firstly, I’d like to thank the Queensland Government for bringing the game up to Townsville. What a crowd & now you get to hold the record so well done Townsville!

I’d like to thank Harvey Norman, Ampol & Westpac. This game doesn’t happen without you guys so thank you.

To Kylie & the Blues, what a performance. What a series. I know we want 3 games but we put on a show tonight and congratulate yourselves over the series so good job, Blues.

To my girls, the staff, the 20 staff that are there, what a series. You can hold your heads high. What a performance. You showed how Queensland play the game and that’s how it’ s done so good job, girls.

And one last thing,…

…QUEENSLANDER!
Queensland captain, Ali Brigginshaw

Kate Jones & Andrew Abdo then presented the Women’s State Of Origin Shield to Ali Brigginshaw. The former two people moved out the way for the rest of the Queensland team and staff who gathered around the Shield. The crowd clapped and flamethrowers lit up the stage as Katy Perry’s hit song, Firework, played. Ground fireworks exploded behind the stage and maroon confetti was propelled over the stage as Queensland lifted the Shield and cheered in victorious glory. That was Women’s State Of Origin 2023.

Game 3 of the men’s edition is on Wednesday the 12th of July at 8:05pm AEST at Stadium Australia, Sydney.

Dominant QLD Lead By 8 Points In Women’s State Of Origin 2023

Queensland 18-10 New South Wales

After a close 1st half, Queensland went onto to lead for the whole 2nd half despite a final unsuccessful push by NSW to win Game 1 of an expanded 2-game Women’s State Of Origin & thereby, lead by 8 points going into the final match.

Rebecca Hatch performing before Game 1 of the *Women’s State of Origin* at Western Sydney Stadium.
Photograph: Women’s State Of Origin © Gregg Porteous

Women’s State Of Origin 2023 begun with Indigenous singer, Rebecca Hatch, building up the atmosphere for the record crowd of 12,972 with a singer-disc jockey duet set in the 30 minutes to kick-off, which concluded with a pyrotechnic display. Unlike in the men’s edition, this pre-match entertainment was not televised. The customary Welcome To Country, conducted by Aunty Julie Jones and performance of the National Anthem, sung by the Australian Girls Choir, then followed and was televised. The Women’s State Of Origin shield was waiting on the sidelines. Preceding all this, 2 hours prior to kick-off, was a RISE Rookies rugby league match between New South Wales (NSW) Blue Vs NSW Navy, an exhibition match comprising of aspiring athletes aged 17 and over. NSW Blue won 28-8.

Anyway, to the main game. Queensland scored the opening try (Julia Robinson) but crucially, missed the conversion, leaving their lead open to attack by NSW. Shortly after, New South Wales respond with determination by scoring its only converted try (Jessica Sergis). New South Wales were leading 6-4.

In a scary moment, NSW captain Isabelle Kelly, while attempting a tackle, injured her throat which resulted in her struggling for breath, vomiting blood and making an immediate trip to hospital, which, being in Parramatta, is not far away.

Shortly after, just as half-time approached, Queensland scored its only converted try (Tazmin Gray). At half-time, the score was 10-6 in favour of Queensland – just like in the men’s edition.

During half-time, a Little Origin match was held between William Stimson Public School & Kurnell Public School.

Unlike in the men’s edition, Queensland got off to a flyer in the 2nd half with 2 tries (Emily Bass & Julia Robinson) in quick succession, though both were not converted. New South Wales managed to respond with another try (Jaime Chapman), though unconverted & though dominating the game towards its conclusion, couldn’t reach the try line to make up the rest of Queensland’s lead in the final 25 minutes, giving Queensland the win in Game 1 & the lead in the expanded 2-game series.

The successful conversions were kicked by Zahara Temara for Queensland & Jesse Southwell for New South Wales.

The final score was Queensland 18-10 New South Wales. Under the rules of the expanded Women’s State Of Origin, the winner of the series is the team with the highest aggregate points after Game 2 and if they are tied, it will be the team with the most tries, which Queensland also leads 4-2. So, effectively, we are at half time in 4 quarter game with 2 quarters at home and 2 quarters away.

The girls were outstanding tonight. Just the effort, we saw the boys do it last night and I think the girls got a bit of a lift from that. They came out tonight and just put in effort upon effort and held New South Wales out late in that game.
Queensland coach, Tahnee Norris

I think we had some really, really good moments and some, looked really good in patches, but it was only in patches, and we need to be more consistent. I honestly don’t think we could play as bad as we did tonight.
New South Wales coach, Kylie Hilde

Game 2 will be held at North Queensland Stadium in Townsville on Thursday, June 22 at 7:45pm AEST & Game 2 of the men’s edition is the day prior at 8:05pm AEST at Lang Park, Brisbane.

Own Goal: FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 No Longer Considered An ‘Extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular

As of 5th April 2023, Sydney Spectaculars is no longer considering the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia & New Zealand an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular.

As the biggest event to be hosted by Australia since the International Fleet Review in 2013, it had been expected that after the conclusion of the Final, a no more than 3-minutes long fireworks display over Sydney Harbour would occur including no more than 2 barges & the Sydney Harbour Bridge upper arch and catwalk. A Bridge Effect would have also been expected but as times have changed, this would have been in the form of a drone show.

The reasoning behind this expectation is as follows:

A 3-minute fireworks display, using 2 barges & the upper arch and catwalk of the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well as a Bridge Effect featured after the Rugby World Cup 2003 – Australia Final.
The modern equivalent of a Bridge Effect is a drone show.
In 2019, World Rugby decided that the words ‘Rugby World Cup’ would now refer to both the men’s and women’s editions.
The FIFA World Cup, an international men’s association football tournament, is an event ranked in importance, below The Games Of The Olympiad & above the Rugby World Cup.
The Games Of The Olympiad – Sydney 2000’s Closing Night Harbour Spectacular was the world’s largest fireworks display at the time.
As both the Rugby World Cup 2003 – Australia & The Games Of The Olympiad – Sydney 2000 had significant fireworks displays on Sydney Harbour at the conclusion of the event if hosted in Sydney. therefore, the FIFA World Cup would also have a significant fireworks display at a size in-between the size of the preceding 2 events’ fireworks displays.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is the women’s equivalent of the FIFA World Cup.
Sydney is hosting the Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia & New Zealand on Sunday, the 20 August 2023.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is ranked lower in importance than the Rugby World Cup (Men’s). Therefore, a drone show & a no more than 3-minute long fireworks display using the Sydney Harbour Bridge & no more than 2 barges should occur.

Sydney Spectaculars is of the understanding that there are no plans for a significant combined fireworks display & drone show nor a sole significant fireworks display, both of which would feature the Sydney Harbour Bridge upper arch and catwalk & no more than 2 barges.

Therefore, as of 5th April 2023, Sydney Spectaculars has decided to downgrade the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia & New Zealand from an ‘extraordinary’ Sydney Spectacular to just another Sydney Spectacular but not a ‘flagship’ Sydney Spectacular as it is not an annual event.

This is a major blow for Sydney’s event industry, culture & night-time economy. The lack of a similar fireworks display and drone show will be a notable absence in the history of major events in Sydney, reduce the significance of hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and potentially affecting Australia’s chances of one day hosting the men’s FIFA World Cup. It also leads to questions of possible discrimination on the basis of sex by FIFA, the tournament’s organisers, and the NSW Government, the government body most responsible for hosting such an event, particularly with the growth of women’s professional commercial sport in the past decade. The FIFA Women’s World Cup was first held in 1991 while the men’s FIFA World Cup was first held in 1930.

If Sydney Spectaculars finds out that by luck a significant fireworks display will occur after the Final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia & New Zealand, we will immediately resume coverage of the event but at this stage, it looks unlikely. There is still every chance for a projection on the Sydney Opera House but this will not be significant as the building is lit up for many other events. A drone show is possible but such a drone show could have been held anywhere in the world – it just would be themed to Australia & New Zealand.

We wish the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 – Australia & New Zealand every success.

Sydney Opera House Welcomes In Year Of The Rabbit & Cat With 10th Anniversary Illumination

Last night from 8:40pm, the Sydney Opera House was lit up red in its annual traditional illumination to celebrate Lunar New Year.

Red is chosen as it is regarded as a symbol of good fortune and luck.

First lit up in red in February 2013 for Chinese New Year, the illumination’s presence saw the City Of Sydney’s Chinese New Year celebration, which had started in 1996, expand, peaking in 2017 with the included additions of a Sydney Harbour Bridge red (pink as well in 2019) illumination amongst other city landmarks and a fireworks display in Circular Quay to coincide with the beginning of the illuminations. The event was renamed Sydney Lunar Festival in 2019, to take into account non-Chinese celebrations of Lunar New Year & the expansion was suddenly dropped in 2020 and is now held at just below its pre-2013 scale, which it has been ever since. However, the Sydney Opera House red illumination, which is independent of the City Of Sydney event, remains. Lunar New Year in Sydney, nevertheless, was and still is the biggest celebration of the event outside of Asia – a feat that should not be ignored.

Lunar New Year last 15 days from the 1st new moon of the lunar calendar until the 2nd next full moon. The 2023 Lunar New Year celebration began on Sunday the 22nd of January and will end on Monday the 6th of February.

The NSW Government has been joining communities across the state to celebrate this significant cultural event for more than a decade.

While Lunar New Year is significant to many across the state, it also represents much of what we all stand & hope for in a new year, especially new beginnings.

To everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year, I wish you all prosperity, good health and fortune for the year ahead.
Dominic Perrottet, Premier Of NSW

You will be hard-pressed to find such rich diversity proudly championed and celebrated like it is in NSW.

It is about showing communities and the world that we welcome everyone and value our diversity.

I wish everyone a prosperous and happy Year of the Rabbit & for those from a Vietnamese background, a very happy Year of the Cat.
Mark Coure, Minister For Multiculturalism