Manchester To Host 2008 Men's & Women's World Open Championships

Manchester has won the right to host the Hi-Tec Men's & Women's World Open Championships in 2008.

The decision was confirmed by the World Squash Federation (WSF) and the Professional Squash Association (PSA) during Finals day at the British National Championships in Manchester today.

Building upon the achievement of hosting the XVII Commonwealth Games and cementing the city's commitment to staging high profile major events, Manchester is working in partnership with England Squash, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), UK Sport, Hi-Tec Sports UK, Dunlop Slazenger International and Sportdiscount.com to deliver the World Championships.

Leader of Manchester City Council, Richard Leese, said: "Manchester is continually building on its world class reputation as a destination for major events. We are delighted to have won the right to host the 2008 World Squash Championships. This will allow the city to build on its community sports programmes and we hope that given time Manchester will go on to produce future competitors for future events. The events also put Manchester on the global stage and bring long-term social and economic benefits to the city and its residents."

The unique partnership will ensure that a combined total of over £600,000 is invested to support the delivery of the event. It will create long-term social and economic benefits for the city as well as opportunities for grass roots, through to performance squash development programmes.

"I am absolutely delighted that our bid with Manchester City Council has been successful. Squash is on the up in this country and the chance to showcase squash and the best players in the world - including our own world champions - is fantastic for the sport," said Jackie Robinson, Chairman of England Squash.

Manchester will be the first city in the UK to host a combined Men's and Women's World Open Championship and the tournament will be held at the world-renowned National Squash Centre (NSC) at Sportcity, from 11-19 October 2008. The facility houses six traditional glass-backed courts on which qualifying rounds will be played before the attention switches to the all-glass championship court for the latter stages.

Peter Mearns, NWDA Director of Marketing, said: "Today's announcement is yet another example of how the Regional Major Events Strategy is paying dividends by attracting world-class sporting events to the North West. First-class facilities combined with a proven track record in hosting major events will ensure that the World Squash Championships in 2008 are an unrivalled success, generating significant economic benefits for both Manchester and the whole of the North West."

Manchester has become synonymous with the successful hosting of major international sporting events such as UEFA Champions League Final, Visa Paralympic World Cup, and will stage the Norwich Union European Trials and AAA Championships.

John Scott, UK Sport's International Director said: "UK Sport are delighted to make an award of up to £152,000 towards the costs of staging the 2008 World Squash Championships. This money has been made available through our Lottery funded World Class Events Programme, which aims to secure sporting events of strategic importance in the UK.

"Squash was a huge success at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester and since then a thriving development programme has been in place in the city. Hosting a world championship will enable all the partners involved to continue building upon the legacies created as a result of 2002 which include volunteer schemes and programmes to engage the local community. Additionally, staging such a prestigious event brings numerous sporting benefits to the region, all of which are at the heart of UK Sport's Major Events strategy."

Now held annually, the World Open Squash Championships are recognised as the most important events in the world squash calendar and the biggest prize on the professional circuits. The main draws for the tournament will see 64 players compete in the Men's Championship and 32 players in the Women's Championship, with representation from 40 different countries. Manchester will also stage the qualifying rounds immediately preceding the main competition.

Frank van Wezel, Chairman of Hi-Tec Sports and Life Vice President of England Squash, said: "In 1974 Hi-Tec produced the world's first ever sports shoe designed specifically for the game of squash. In the 32 years since the HI-TEC Squash was born, Hi-Tec has been at the forefront of the game both in terms of product innovation and sponsorship of the game from the grass roots through to the professional game. I am extremely proud that Hi-Tec is the title sponsor of the 2008 World Championships and believe that Manchester will provide a tournament which will make the squash world proud."

The NSC annually hosts the National Squash Championships and already has a history of hosting major international squash tournaments. This includes the prestigious Dunlop British Open, which will be staged once again at the NSC in 2007.

Toby Marcham, Group Product Manager for Dunlop Squash, said: "We are naturally delighted to be a major partner and official racket for the 2008 World Championships. As the global market leader in squash rackets and balls, Dunlop is committed to the game at all levels. In line with this commitment, being part of delivering the World Championships presents the perfect match for Dunlop. It also provides a great opportunity to further extend Dunlop's highly successful squash partnership with Manchester City Council and England Squash."

The World Championships are sanctioned by the international governing body for the sport, the World Squash Federation (WSF), who now boast a membership of over 120 nations. As well as organising world championship events at all age-groups and for teams and individuals, the WSF works closely with the two main player associations, the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and the Women's International Squash Players' Association (WISPA) to coordinate the world calendar for squash.

Jahangir Khan, President of the World Squash Federation and a record ten-times British Open champion, said: "The World Squash Federation is delighted to announce that the 2008 World Squash Championships have been awarded to England Squash and the city of Manchester.

"The event, which will crown the Men's and Women's World Champions and therefore attract the attention of 150+ Squash-playing nations, will precede the all-important 2009 IOC Session, one which we hope will finally see Squash recognised as an Olympic sport. Well done England Squash and Manchester. The world of Squash waits in anticipation for a world class competition."

The PSA World Tour and the WISPA World Tour form the backbone of elite squash for men and women respectively. Tournaments are played throughout the year across all five continents, from Manchester to Melbourne, Cairo to Quebec, with athletes competing to obtain valuable world ranking points.

"The Professional Squash Association, joint owners of the Men's World Open Squash Championships, is delighted with the outcome of the successful bid of Manchester in winning the right to host the Men's World Open 2008," said Gawain Briars, Chief Executive of the Professional Squash Association.

"The quality of Manchester's bid document, working in partnership with Northwest Regional Development Agency, UK Sport, England Squash, Hi-Tec Sports UK, Dunlop Slazenger International and Sportdiscount.com, to deliver and promote the most prestigious squash championships in the world left the PSA in no doubt as to the credentials of Manchester for 2008.

"The undoubted experience and expertise of Manchester's event direction team will ensure that the tournament is run in the most professional manner to produce a World Open that all players, spectators and sponsors will remember for years to come, and PSA is truly indebted to all who will make this the blue riband event for 2008."

For many years Manchester has developed and delivered a broad range of sports development programmes and events across the city. Squash has been recognised as one of Manchester City Council's 13 core priority sports and the city works in partnership with England Squash, from their headquarters at the National Squash Centre, Sportcity, to increase participation and to raise the profile of the sport regionally, nationally and internationally. The awarding of the World Squash Championships to Manchester provides an opportunity for people of all ages and from across the country, to see the best players in the world.