The winner of the 1000-metre invitational, which will be run between the men’s and women’s Stawell Gift finals on Monday, will take home $5000.
“I always love watching Stawell every year,” Bol said.
“The women’s 1000m in 2023 was a great race and I’m excited to run that same distance. I hope we have a great race.”
Stawell Gift Event Management chairman Murray Emerson said organisers were thrilled to entice a runner of Bol’s calibre to Stawell.
“Having Australia’s best 800-metre runner, who is preparing for the Olympics coming up later this year, is a real coup for us. We’re very excited about that,” he said.
“He’s bringing some of his fellow Olympic aspirants with him to run as well.”
Mr Emerson said there would also be plenty of excitement in the men’s and women’s gifts, with 2023 champions Ryan Tarrant and Bella Pasquali returning to defend their respective titles.
He said both would be given tough assignments, with handicappers pulling Pasquali back to a 2.5-metre mark and Tarrant running off scratch.
“It’s a big ask for them to improve that much, but it has happened before,” he said.
Mr Emerson said about 900 entrants would take part in this year’s gift, spread across 27 events.
Betting reinstated
He said betting on events would also be reinstated after a community outcry.
In February, organisers announced plans to suspend betting at the Stawell Gift after the State Government introduced legislation banning wagering on athletes under the age of 19.
But Mr Emerson said the Stawell Gift Event Management board revised its position after further discussion with the government, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission and sponsors.
“We worked out that we could do it without any risk. So we’ve reinstated it and brought in a bit of governance to make sure there’s no wagering on anybody under the age of 19,” he said.
“You disqualify, in our instance, anybody under 19 from the betting agencies.
“The bookmakers who are there will be scrutinised and given all the information about the ages of the entrants by the Victorian Athletic League.
“We’ll have a supervisor there across the three days to monitor them and make sure they’re not betting on minors.
“The responsibility is with the agency, because if they break the law, there are very stiff penalties and they won’t be able to operate at the Stawell Gift any longer.”
Mr Emerson said the board was ‘quite comfortable’ with the decision to partially reinstate betting.
He said popular off-track events and entertainment, such as Saturday’s Fashions Day, would return, with this year’s theme encouraging attendees to dress up in ‘black and white with a dash of red’.
A family day on Sunday will feature a children’s athletic clinic, face painting, an Easter egg hunt and an inflatable slide.
Mr Emerson said the Stawell community was set to benefit, with a Main Street Extravaganza returning on Saturday morning, along with Friday’s Great Western Rodeo and Saturday’s Stawell Gold Cup – giving visitors plenty of reason to explore the region.
“Our wineries and restaurants will be busy throughout the weekend,” he said.
“Northern Grampians Shire Council has Central Park looking in fantastic condition, and we’re hopeful we’ll get some good weather and see people streaming through the gates.”
People can find more information about the Stawell Gift by visiting www.stawellgift.com.
The entire March 27, 2024 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
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