Big international response expected for World Cup Darts match in Perth

25/9/97

More than 1,000 visitors from 30 countries would be in Perth for the World Cup Darts, Tourism Minister Norman Moore said today.

The event, the most prestigious on the international darts calendar, will be held in the Burswood Dome from October 1-4.

Mr Moore said that champion men's and women's dart players would contest singles, pairs and team events to decide the winning nation.

"The World Cup Darts is expected to inject about $1 million into the local economy and more than 94 countries will get television coverage of the event," he said.

Mr Moore said that Western Australians were expected to feature prominently.

They included Australia's men's singles champion, Graham Hunt, Peter Hinkley, ranked No 2, and Dot McLeod, the No 1-ranked Australian woman.

Australia's greatest competition was expected from England, where more than six million people play regularly, the Netherlands and Wales. Other competing nations included Canada, the US, Scotland, Malaysia, Japan and Italy.

"Darts is a terrific spectator sport and I am sure that this world event will help increase its profile and popularity," Mr Moore said.

He said the World Cup Darts was an important part of the Best on Earth in Perth program - 12 world-class events over 12 months.

Perth already had hosted the Aerobics World Championships and the World Track Cycling Championships.

Still to come were world championships in Olympic sports such as triathlon, windsurfing and swimming and the Fremantle stopover for the Whitbread Round the World yacht race.

These were in addition to Perth's regular hallmark events - API Rally Australia, the Hyundai Hopman Cup, golf's Heineken Classic, the Festival of Perth and the Coca-Cola Rusty Masters surf event at Margaret River.

Media contact: Hartley Joynt, Minister's office - 089 321 1444