The Australian sporting industry’s flagship conference will move from Victoria to Queensland, with the Gold Coast to play host for the next three years.

The Australia Sports Tech Conference will take place on the Gold Coast from 2021 to 2023, following an agreement between organisers Sports Tech World Series and Tourism and Events Queensland.

The major business event is expected to attract 2,000 delegates to the Gold Coast each year to discuss the latest innovations and trends across the sporting industry.

It is estimated the event will contribute $3 million to the Gold Coast economy.

“Events like this are vital when it comes to supporting local businesses to rebuild,” said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“This series will pump millions of dollars into our economy and support local jobs at a time we need it most.

“We’ll continue to work hard to secure events that further our economic recovery strategy here in Queensland.”

The first of the three conferences will take place at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 3 September 2021 and will be part of the first-ever Australia Sports Innovation Week.

The event will feature masterclasses, VIP field tours, a start-up investor day and the Australia and New Zealand Sports Technology Awards dinner.

Sports Tech World Series head of APAC Marc Roufeil said it was the perfect time to move the event to Queensland.

“Not only is Queensland hosting some of the world’s biggest sporting events, but it’s also home to a growing sports business and sports innovation ecosystem with exciting young start-ups and global sports leaders like Vald Performance calling Queensland home,” he said.

“We see this as a great opportunity to partner with the Queensland Government and continue to build on the momentum that they have already created by building a true destination event that is a must attend for anyone working across sports technology and innovation.”

The conference is also hoped to further showcase Queensland’s sporting infrastructure and tourism experiences, as state continues conversations with the International Olympic Committee about hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.