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Named the SGIO North Queensland Games after a major sponsor was fruitfully lured, the carnival was held in the Townsville region on 19-23 April 1984.
The first games were considered an “outstanding success” with 42 sports; from athletics to shooting, water polo to gymnastics and a vast range of disciplines in between.
The first NQ Games coincided with the Queensland Country Athletics Champions, as well as the North Queensland Swimming Championships, allowing over 6400 competitors to take place in active competition – that level of participation meant that the inaugural Games was the largest regional multi-sport event in Australia.
It was reported that the opening ceremony at the Townsville Sports Reserve was attended by approximately 15,000 people, with a march of at least 7000 sports people and children.
A unique feature of the opening ceremony was the inter-shire relays (Women’s and then Men’s 4x100m relay – the first event of the Games.
Papua New Guinea won gold in the women’s event, with Townsville taking out the men’s race. Dawn Fraser, special guest of the Foundation over the Games period, presented medals to the female winners, with MP John Brown making the men’s presentation. The Games Torch was paraded in by by Ron Grant OAM.
