Volume 2, No. 4. February 22, 2002
World's Cup
Even as the Winter Olympics are fading
into fond memories, the next big athletic gathering will be getting under way
Down Under. Resuming after a one-year hiatus, the Challenge Cup competition
among West Australia corporations will heat up at Adventure World Fun Park in
Bibra Lake near Perth.
Admittedly, this will not be Olympic-calibre competition. Events include the
"Slip and Slide Obstacle Course," "Balls Up" (maneuvering a ball with mechanical
hands) and the "Ski and Track Relay." For that contest, five members of each
team must, in tandem, race on one giant ski to the end of the course, then five
teammates race back in a rolled-up carpet.
"Bigger corporate groups
look to put teams in the Challenge Cup not only as a great team-building event,
but a big event for spectators who cheer their companies on," said Kirrily Spencer,
sales and promotions manager for Adventure World. The park is hoping to sign
up 48 teams comprising five females and five males each, plus two alternates.
Teams will be divided into three heats, competing March 9 and 10 and March 16,
and the top finishers from each heat play in the final on March 17. First place
earns AUD$1,500 (US$770) and an exclusive breakfast function at Adventure World.
Second place wins $750 (US$385), and the third-place team gets $250 (US$128).
Prizes also will be awarded to the best cheer squad and for the best team uniforms.
Corporations pay $1,089
(US$559) to enter a team, or for $1,750 (US$899) the company will also get 100
Adventure World admission tickets, a $29.50 (US$15) value each, that it can
sell or give away. Spectator tickets cost $8.50 (US$4) for blocks of 20. The
competition takes place in the evening after the park has closed to the general
public, but Adventure World's new ride, Rampage, will continue operating
for the Challenge Cup participants and spectators.
For the park, the Challenge
Cup attracts media attention just as Adventure World is entering its post-summer
shoulder season. The program also boosts the park's group events marketing efforts.
Having run the competition for 10 years, Adventure World decided to drop the
Challenge Cup last year while it pursued other special shoulder-season events,
like the adults only swim parties. The off-year also allowed organizers to "revamp
and put a new face on Challenge Cup," Spencer said, and this year's event focuses
more on the competition's team-building aspects, making it even more attractive
to corporations.
"Our corporate market is a big one," Spencer said. "We need to look after them; they are a big part of our group bookings throughout the season. Apart from the monetary benefit, Challenge Cup is an added value for groups taking part. It is exposure for us, something different for them, a very unique event, and a bit of fun."