Minister announces Lacrosse World Championships for Perth

12/3/2001
Perth has won the bid to host the ILF Lacrosse World Championships next year.
Tourism Minister Clive Brown said this was a significant triumph for Western Australia as it was the first time that countries were required to bid for the event.
"The sport has dramatically increased in popularity since 1990, when Perth last hosted the World Championships and only five nations competed," Mr Brown said.
"The bidding process was introduced because of this increase in popularity and Perth will host what will be the largest event ever held in the sport."
A Festival of Lacrosse will be held over a three-week period and will feature the World Championships as the flagship event.
Competitions ranging from Sofcrosse for the under 11s to Masters and Grand Masters events for those over 35, 45 and 55, will also make up the Festival.
Mr Brown said the event would attract more than 4000 people to Perth specifically for the Festival of Lacrosse.
"With so many participants attending for a three-week period, the economic impact for this event will be close to $10 million," he said.
Chairman of the 2002 World Lacrosse Championship Organising Committee, Mr George Halleen, said that not only would this event be the largest ever held for the sport, but also had additional significance for Perth.
"People competing in the World Championships will be striving to win the LS Turnbull Trophy - dedicated to the late Laurie Turnbull, past president of WA Lacrosse Association and a notable Western Australian," Mr Halleen said.
"Laurie worked hard to make lacrosse the worldwide sport it is today and I am sure he would be proud to see an event of this scope coming to Perth."
The 11 nations contesting the World Championships are Australia, England, Germany, Japan, USA, Canada, Scotland, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Wales and Iroquois (American Indian nation).
An international tournament taking place in the Festival of Lacrosse will give countries new to the sport such as China, Argentina, Pakistan, Italy, Korea and Hong Kong the chance to participate.
The events making up the Festival of Lacrosse will be contested at the UWA Sports Park (McGillivray Sportsground) near Challenge Stadium in Mt Claremont.
The ILF Lacrosse World Championships will be held from July 6 to 14, 2002.
Media contacts:
Carole Cowling, Minister's office 9222 9699
Janine Carter, EventsCorp, 9270 3311
George Halleen, 2002 World Lacrosse Championship Organising Committee, 9448 6305