Part 1: New-look recreation centre wows international visitors

Best championships ever, best accommodation ever, best location ever ...

If the reaction to the first international event at the redeveloped Tallebudgera Active Recreation Centre is anything to go by, the new-look Queensland icon seems certain to inspire a new generation of young people to get active.

More than 620 people from 15 countries were part of the World Rope Skipping Championships, which were held at Tallebudgera on Queensland's Gold Coast from 20-29 July 2004.

Jan Somers, the Queensland-based president of the Australian Rope Skipping Association, worked closely with Departmental staff throughout 2003 and the first half of 2004 to ensure nothing was left to chance in the hosting of the prestigious event.

"The staff from the centre and the Department of Communities were absolutely fantastic and went beyond the call of duty to ensure we had everything we needed," Ms Somers said.

"It really was a team effort and I was personally blown away by the support we received."

The "team effort" certainly paid off, with the event attracting significant media attention and unanimous praise from participants, coaches, volunteers and officials.

"I've been to nine international competitions and this was by far the best," Ms Somers said.

"The International Rope Skipping Federation has already deemed it the best ever and I think it's fair to say the venue was a big part of our success.

"I have literally received hundreds of emails from participants and their families about how wonderful the event and venue were.

"The fact that everything - the accommodation, the gym, the competition venue and the dining hall - was all within a hundred metres or so was, from our perspective, simply unbeatable."

The $18 million redevelopment of the Tallebudgera Outdoor Recreation Centre was completed in 2003-04 with the construction of new accommodation facilities, administration building, dining hall and commercial kitchen.

The new facilities complement the Tallebudgera Leisure Centre, which was completed as part of the first stage of the redevelopment in 2002.

A key component of the recreation centre's future will be the delivery of participation programs that enable user groups to experience a wide range of fun recreational activities.

The historic facility, which has become a Gold Coast icon since being built in the 1940s, is one of 12 outdoor recreation centres around Queensland operated by the Department.

Read more about how the Tallebudgera Outdoor Recreation Centre hosted the "best ever" World Rope Skipping Championships.