The 48th annual International Olympic Committee event will be held from January 27 to February 2 for competitors aged between 12 and 15.

The 2010 International Children’s Games, being held in Bahrain at the moment, have attracted about 2000 competitors from 35 countries.

The Lake Macquarie event is expected to draw more than 3000 visitors to the region.

With host nations able to select which events they will host, Lake Macquarie’s event is expected to include track and field, gymnastics, swimming, water polo, golf, sailing, soccer and potentially BMX.

Speaking from the current event in Bahrain yesterday, Lake Macquarie City Council external relations specialist Kelly Lofberg said the event would be a massive tourism opportunity for the Hunter.

‘‘It’s a highly prestigious event in the northern hemisphere,’’ she said.

‘‘I imagine that [its economic impact] would be in the millions. Because it’s such a long way to come [to Australia], we’d expect people to stay a bit longer and maybe explore our region and the state.’’

While bids were usually made two years out, Ms Lofberg said Australia’s maiden attempt at hosting the Games was given a longer preparation.

‘‘We were really competing against the 2013 bids,’’ she said.

Ms Lofberg said she hoped to form a committee to begin planning the event with businesses when she returned from Bahrain.

‘‘We won’t be able to do this without the support of the community,’’ she said.

Gymnasts Elley Irwin, Lucinda Bailey and Paige Nelson are among a team of competitors who will represent the Hunter and Australia at the 2014 International Children’s Games.

Lake Macquarie has been penned into travel diaries of the world’s best junior athletes after the city won a bid to host the event from January 27 to February 2.

Glendore Public School student Paige, 9, has been practising gymnastics since she was four, and is looking forward to impressing judges with her skill on the beam.

‘‘I feel really proud,’’ she said.

Other sports to be contested include track and field, swimming, water polo, golf, sailing and soccer.