Next year more than 500 competitors will descend on the Coromandel Peninsula for the 2016 Inter-Council Sports Tournament.

Thames-Coromandel District Council won the right to host the tournament which features participants from district, regional, and city councils, plus council-controlled organisations.

The tournament has taken place annual for the past 17 years and aims to strengthen relationships while also promoting and stimulating healthy competition.

Chief executive David Hammond says Thames was selected as the venue and the benefits to the town and surrounding district are expected will be felt, particularly for accommodation providers.

'Event tourism brings people to the town, we feed them, provide accommodation and perhaps they will stay an extra day to explore our district,” says David.

'Thames ticked the most boxes for this and it also happened that the only suitable venue available for the Saturday night function catering for up to 500 people is in Thames.”

This year council sent the ‘Coromandel Mussels' – a team of 25 people including support staff – to the tournament which was held during March up in Northland.

Made up of staff from different departments, the group competed against other councils in football and touch rugby, plus a novelty event over a weekend.

'Although they didn't come home with the trophy, the popularity of the Coromandel has seen our council win hosting rights for the 18th annual tournament,” adds David.

The Inter-Council Sports Tournament hosted by the Thames-Coromandel District Council will be held in Thames on March 12, 2016

For more information contact the organising team via email at: [email protected]