Whether Lake Macquarie can live up to the mayor's bold prediction will be revealed in December.

But what's not in doubt is the scale of the event.

"The International Children's Games is going to be the biggest event that Lake Macquarie has ever seen," Cr Harrison said.

"We are going to have over 80 cities from 30 countries here in Lake Macquarie between December 6 and 11.

"We're going to have about 1500 competitors, and their coaches, and their families, all coming to compete in the Games."

The Olympic-sanctioned event is clearly a big deal for the city.

And Cr Harrison was happy to borrow one of the biggest lines from the International Olympic Committee's former boss, the late Juan Antonio Samaranch, who famously declared the Sydney Olympics to be the best Games ever staged.

"We heard the chair of the International Olympic Committee talk about the Sydney Olympic Games. I reckon the Lake Macquarie International Children's Games is going to be the biggest and the best in the history of the Games since 1968," she said.

The International Children's Games were founded to promote world peace.

The Games are for children aged 12 to 15.

Assistant Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Katrina Hodgkinson, said hosting the Games would contribute "millions of dollars in visitor expenditure for the local economy" and a "huge coup" for Lake Macquarie.

■ For more details: visit

icg-lakemacquarie2014.com.