The next generation of sporting stars have arrived on the Gold Coast for the annual Gold Coast Titans All Schools (GCTAS) Touch Football event.

The school versus school competition is one of the largest festivals of touch football in the Southern Hemisphere, and will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2022.

More than 6000 students will go head to head across five days of competition, with over 1700 games set to be played across 30 fields.

Aged 13 through to 18, competitors will battle it out from 5-9 October at the world class Gold Coast Performance Centre at Runaway Bay, thanks to the support of Major Events Gold Coast.

Councillor Donna Gates, Deputy Mayor City of Gold Coast, said it’s great to see so many children enjoying touch football on the picturesque Gold Coast.

“There’s only one way to describe this competition and that’s – incredible,” Cr Gates said.

“460 teams, close to 7000 school aged competitors fighting it out over the next five days here at Runaway Bay.

“Congratulations to the Tournament Director Peter Bell and it’s great to see Major Event Gold Coast coming on board with touch football to present this fantastic event.

“The City (of Gold Coast) is really proud to be hosting this event, and to see all the competitors on the fields,” she said.

Peter Bell said the competition will also double as a celebration of the Gold Coast Titans All Schools 40th anniversary.

“This is our 40th anniversary – we started this event in 1983 and it’s continually grown over the years to be what we experience today,” Bell said.

“The kids playing here are coming from Singapore, New Zealand, South Australia, New South Wales and all over Queensland to be here on the beautiful Gold Coast. 

“We’re very fortunate to have such a great venue here at the Gold Coast Performance Centre.

“Without the support of Major Events Gold Coast and the Gold Coast Titans this event wouldn’t be able to succeed. So it’s great to be here and we’re looking forward to a really great week,” he said.

Gold Coast Titans CEO Steve Mitchell highlighted the importance of the partnership for both sports.

“It’s very exciting to be here again at the Gold Coast Titans All Schools Touch event,” Mitchell said.

“Touch football, and this event, are an extremely important piece for us. Our purpose is to make our communities proud, and our touch football community is probably one of the largest that we have.

“The Gold Coast is the traditional heartland of touch, and it’s great to bring this event back to its traditional home again.

“It’s wonderful to have all these competitors and their families on the Gold Coast and we’re very excited about the days ahead,” he said.

Queensland Touch Football CEO Greg Denny said he’s excited for what is set to unfold over the next few days.

“It’s fantastic to be here this week at the Gold Coast Titans All Schools. This is an amazing event that brings together kids from across the state,” Denny said. 

“For a lot of the kids, this is their pinnacle of the year – to come down to the Gold Coast to celebrate and play touch football.

“We’d like to thank the Gold Coast Titans and Major Events Gold Coast for their support. None of this is possible without their support, and we look forward to a really good week here,” he said.