Press Release – English Lacrosse Association
Today, Thursday 12th July, the Federation of International Lacrosse announced that the English Lacrosse Association has been successful in its bid to host the tenth Women’s Lacrosse World Cup in 2017. This topped a good fortnight for English Lacrosse which saw an England double gold at the European Championships, where both men’s and women’s teams emerged victorious.
The English bid enjoyed cross-parliamentary backing from nearly 100 MPs including David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband and Hugh Robertson. Westminster hosted a launch for the bid in May, when a number of MPs and sports celebrities signed the ‘back the bid’ flag.
The FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup
This will be the third time England has hosted the FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup, previously welcoming the tournament in 1982 (Nottingham) and 2001 (High Wycombe).
The last World Cup took place in 2009, hosted by Prague, Czech Republic. 16 nations competed for the World title, including new entries, Austria, Denmark, Haudenosaunee, Ireland, South Korea and the Netherlands. The United States of America are the reigning World Champions, having defeated Australia 8-7 in the gold medal match.
The 2013 FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup takes place in Oshawa, Canada. Team England will be looking to build on their 4th place finish in 2009.
The 2017 FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup will take place at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford, which has previously hosted the Lacrosse Home Internationals last April as well as the Women’s Rugby Cup in 2010, with 30 nations expected to compete.
English Lacrosse Honoured
We are honoured and delighted to be the 2017 Women’s World Cup hosts. English Lacrosse has worked hard to grow the sport domestically and our international squads have represented us excellently abroad. In addition, we know that hosting a World Cup will help lacrosse’s continued growth but will also make a valuable economic contribution, if Manchester 2010′s success is anything to go by, we can look forward to generating over £5 million for the country. Sue Redfern, Chair of English Lacrosse Board
Surrey Sports Park in Guildford
Surrey Sports Park in Guildford
Surrey Sports Park in Guildford
Official FIL Press Release
FIL Awards 2017 Senior Women’s World Cup to England
Tenth World Cup to be held in country of first World Cup -England to host their third World Cup.
Shelley Maher, Women’s Director of the Federation of International Lacrosse (FIL), announced today that the organization has awarded the 2017 Women’s World Cup to the English Lacrosse Association (ELA). The quadrennial tournament, that will take place for the tenth time, returns to England for the third occasion and will take place in Guildford, Surrey at the beginning of the 2017 European summer. The ELA ran the first World Cup in 1982 and the sixth in 2001.
This will be the second women’s World Cup to be held in Europe over the past decade; with the Czech Lacrosse Union having hosted the 2009 World Cup in Prague. The United States are the reigning world champions, having defeated Australia 8-7 in the gold medal match in 2009.
“We are extremely pleased to accept England’s bid to host the 2017 Women’s World Cup,” said Maher. “What a fantastic opportunity to stage the tenth World Cup in the country that hosted the inaugural event. The ELA has put together an excellent plan to host this milestone tournament.”
“It is an honour to host the World Cup again,” said Sue Redfern, who will serve as the primary contact for the 2017 World Cup. Redfern, a former officer in the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations (IFWLA), led the organizing committee for the 2001 World Cup that was hosted by the ELA at Wycombe Abbey in High Wycombe.
The University of Surrey, Guildford, will house all tournament participants while Surrey Sports Park will provide the competition pitches and other facilities. Surrey Sports Park has hosted several major sporting events in the past, including the ‘Game On 2011’ British Basketball Invitational Tournament, the English Junior Squash Championship, BUCS Conference Cup Finals, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2010 and the Surrey School Games. Most recently they served as the site for the 2012 Home International Lacrosse weekend.
Stan Cockerton, FIL President, acknowledged the hard work that the ELA has already undertaken to secure the bid. “I extend my congratulations to England and am confident this event will maintain the high standard previously set by the ELA”.
The Federation of International Lacrosse was established in August, 2008 in a merger of both the men’s and women’s international lacrosse associations. FIL is responsible for the Men’s World Championship, World Indoor Championship, Women’s World Cup, and both the Men’s and Women’s Under-19 World Championships. All of these events take place every four years.
Please visit the FIL website at www.filacrosse.com for further details.