AFTER two years of more international sport than anybody in their wildest dreams thought possible in Canberra, the cupboard is looking pretty bare for the next 12 months.

In 2013, to celebrate the Centenary of Canberra, there was a major sporting event every month with the Australian cricket team playing the West Indies, a rugby league test, the British and Irish Lions tour, a netball test against NZ and the Oceania men’s and women’s basketball series.

Then last year, flowing over to the summer of this year, the Australian cricket team was back to play South Africa, the Australian netballers played England, we had seven matches as part of the Asian Cup, three as part of the World Cup, the National Cycling Tour, the BBL finals and the return of the Australian Athletics’ Tour.

But for the next 12 months, it’s hard to see where the big events are going to materialise.

Cricket Australia has ruled out Canberra as a host location for the Big Bash finals again for the time being; the chances of the Australian cricket team returning to play day-nighters is unlikely; Athletics Australia is yet to commit to a format for the athletics tour; Football Federation Australia doesn’t appear interested in the Socceroos playing in Canberra; there is no sign of a netball test and talks continue with the ARU about playing a Wallabies’ test in the future.

There is little the ACT government can do if the events don’t exist or we don’t have the facilities such as a velodrome or swimming centre to cater for national or international meets.

The Victorian government says it’s in the market for major sporting events for Melbourne and Sydney is also actively seeking the big sports, as shown by successfully bidding for the Rugby Sevens.

Canberra can’t compete with the financial inducements offered by Sydney or Melbourne, but it’s worth asking if we are looking to attract events to improve the lifestyle of the people of Canberra or are we looking at bringing focus and attention to our city?

If it’s a combination of both, we seriously have to consider creating our own sporting events. I believe we need to look at multi-sport events that utilise our terrain and lifestyle.

A marathon swim on the lake; sprint canoe/kayaking on the lake; a significant road cycling race through the city and surrounds; a criterion similar to the one staged in Geelong and Adelaide this year; a major long-distance triathlon or a marathon with the world’s top runners, through the streets of Canberra.

Call it the Canberra Games: we could utilise the facilities we already have coupled with the experience that already exists from running major sporting events involving volunteers over the past two years.

It would not only put Canberra on the map, but it would help shed the tag of a public service town where nothing but policy development happens.