Photo: geelongadvertiser.com.au

Acting Minister for Tourism and Major Events Philip Dalidakis helped launch the 2017 Australian Open today, the Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific.

The new Tanderrum Bridge will shave pedestrian travel time between Flinders Street Station and Birrarung Marr to under 10 minutes.

Tanderrum is a welcoming ceremony by the people of the Kulin nations, featuring song, dance and cultural exchange, and providing safe passage for visitors on country.

It’s a fitting name for a footbridge set to welcome hundreds of thousands of fans to Melbourne Park to watch the world’s best tennis stars in action.

Next year, fans will cheer on Australian stars Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic and Samantha Stosur as they take on a field of champions including Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams.

Cities right around the world can only dream of staging a tennis grand slam, because it’s one of the world’s great sporting events. A record 720,362 fans poured through the gates at the 2016 Australian Open, including visitors from right around Australia and the world.

It’s also a great chance to showcase the best of everything in Victoria to tennis fans across the world. This year’s Open was broadcast on 45 television channels globally, reaching more than 900 million homes each day.

The 2017 Australian Open will have something for everyone. The Australian Open Festival at Birrarung Marr will provide entertainment for the whole family, and kids can hone their skills at ANZ Tennis Hot Shots.

A new music festival, The Open Sessions, will ensure Australia’s greatest sporting event boasts a terrific atmosphere too.

The 2017 Australian Open begins on January 16.