Mayor Clifford Lee, Tourism Charlottetown President, Kevin Murphy and Wrestling PEI Executive Director, Glen Flood, announced today that the 2008 Canada East
Bantam Wrestling Championship will be hosted in Charlottetown from May 2nd-4th. The pre-Canada Games event will be held at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre located on the University of Prince Edward Island campus, with athletes from Ontario, Quebec, and the four Atlantic Provinces participating. The event will feature 400 of the best male and female wrestlers ages 10-14.
Another highlight for the provincial sport organization will be when the Canada Games is staged on Prince Edward Island in August 2009, as athletes will be able to demonstrate their skills and prowess in front of a hometown crowd. The upcoming Games will also encourage growth at the athlete and coaching level.
“Wrestling PEI is looking forward to hosting the 2008 Canada East Bantam Championships as part of their build-up to the 2009 Canada Games. The Island will be well represented at the Championship, with Canada Games aged athletes from across the Island,” stated Glen Flood.
Flood also noted, “The Provincial Association is just coming off the high from having hosted the Junior Nationals in 2007, and this recently awarded event will further position our sport on the wrestling mat, so to speak. It gives Wrestling PEI another opportunity to host another major wrestling championship, allowing for additional growth and development in the sport of wrestling.”
Wrestling PEI has proven that they are capable of hosting large competitions. The Canada East Bantam Wrestling Championship was held in Charlottetown a few years ago while the 2007 Junior Nationals was recently hosted by Wrestling PEI in partnership with the Montague Red Rock Club. Wrestling PEI has also hosted the Atlantic Championship as part of a regular rotation with the other Atlantic Provinces.
“Charlottetown has witnessed tremendous sport tourism growth and I am thrilled that our city has SCORE!’d again with the awarding of the hosting-rights to the 2008 Canada East Bantam Wrestling Championship,” said Mayor Lee. “We must continue to capitalize on the opportunities and benefits associated with sport event hosting, particularly in today’s competitive tourism market.”
“Tourism Charlottetown realizes the importance of the Sport market to Tourism with many of the events being staged outside the typical peak tourism season,” said Kevin Murphy. “The Tourism Accommodation Levy allows us to direct more resources to this all important market and with important announcements such the Canada East Bantam Wrestling Championship, it is already paying dividends.”
SCORE!, with partners, continually pursues opportunities for Charlottetown to host regional, national and international sporting events. The City of Charlottetown and Tourism Charlottetown recognize the value of the events sector and has placed high priority on sporting events to stimulate tourism, economic and community growth.
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