Celebrating 10 years of the Top End's biggest indigenous sports carnival

MEDIA RELEASE

West Arnhem Regional Council (WARC) will proudly host the Kurrung Sports Carnival 10 year anniversary event this year on 30 and 31 August 2019.
As the Top End’s biggest indigenous sports carnival, the Kurrung Sports Carnival attracts some 300 competitors, predominately from remote communities in Arnhem Land, to Jabiru, located in Kakadu National Park.
The carnival hosts a men’s and women’s basketball competition and a huge men’s AFL tournament held over two days, with teams hailing from Maningrida, Gunbalanya, Warruwi, Minjilang, Kakadu, Jabiru, Darwin and beyond.    
With the Aboriginal communities of West Arnhem having a proud tradition of sporting excellence, WARC is delighted to deliver such an important event for the people of the region which emphasises fair play, comradery and team spirit.
West Arnhem Regional Council Manager Community Services Adrian McCann said reaching the 10 year anniversary of Kurrung is a huge accomplishment for the Council.
“The Kurrung Sports Carnival has a long and proud history of uniting sportspeople across a vast remote landscape and is the most talked-about event in the region. It is incredibly exciting to be celebrating a decade of triumphs, new friendships and unforgettable moments that make Kurrung not just a tournament, but an integral part of West Arnhem Land’s identity,” he said.
Plans for the 2019 anniversary event are well under way, with logistics being the major component as teams travel great distances from remote islands, and mainland communities and through river crossings to be part of Kurrung.
“This is an all-inclusive event for the West Arnhem region and also runs in conjunction with the Mahbilil Festival in Kakadu which celebrates the local indigenous culture, food, dance, music and more.”
The word ‘Kurrung’ is a word from the local indigenous language ‘Kunwinjku’ which describes the season when the geese flocks in hundreds to Jabiru (Mahbilil). 
Nominations open 8 July and close 9 August and forms are available on the WARC website, Facebook page and all WARC Council offices.
Kurrung Sports Carnival is supported by the Northern Territory Government.