Ottawa, Ontario - May 2, 2006 - Ringette Canada announced today that the
City of Ottawa has won the bid to host the 2007 World Ringette Championship.
The event, which will be held in November 2007, will see competition among
the world's top ringette athletes. Finland currently holds the world title
after defeating Canada at the 2004 World Ringette Championship held in
Stockholm, Sweden.
"Ringette Canada is thrilled to be hosting the 2007 World Ringette
Championship and are looking forward to welcoming elite international
ringette athletes to our country," said Joanne Dearden, president of
Ringette Canada. "We were extremely pleased with the quality of the
presentations from all four bidding communities, Kelowna, London, North Bay
and Ottawa. It was a difficult decision and, in the end, it proved to be a
case of choosing what we felt best fulfilled our requirements. We are
confident that Ottawa has the experience, capability and plan in place to
deliver an outstanding event."
The 2007 event will be the eighth world championship for the sport, with the
first event being held in Gloucester in 1990. While planning is in the early
stages, it is expected that the semi-final and final game will be held at
the Ottawa Civic Centre. Over 100 volunteers will be involved in the
planning and implementation of the event.
"I'm pleased Ottawa will host the 2007 World Ringette Championship," said
Mayor Bob Chiarelli. "Ottawa is a major event city. I know our city, people,
and facilities will make the tournament a success."
Ottawa is no stranger to hosting world-class sporting events, having
previously hosted the Canadian Figure Skating Championships, Grey Cup, World
Synchronized Skating Championships, Jeux de la Francophonie, Nokia Brier and
Memorial Cup. Ottawa also has a strong ringette community with over 2500
players calling the nation's capital home.
"We feel privileged to be able to host an event of this calibre and we
believe that Ottawa is ideally suited to creating a memorable experience for
all participants and spectators," said Rick Brooks, co-chair of the Ottawa
bid committee. "It will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase our country
and its capital city to the athletes from other countries and we hope to
involve the embassies of the attending nations in the event."
The City of Ottawa Ringette Association is the main association hosting the
event, with support from the Eastern Region Ringette Association and its
member organizations, as well as the Association de Ringuette Gatineau, and
the City of Ottawa. In addition to Rick Brooks, Allan Bateman and Linda Lugg
will co-chair the event. Collectively, the three co-chairs have 40 years of
ringette experience.
"Hosting the championship in Ottawa will have a very positive impact on the
local ringette community," added Mayor Bob Chiarelli. "The international
calibre of athletes participating in this event will greatly benefit our
local athletes, and raise the profile of ringette in Canada."
About Ringette
Ringette is a Canadian sport that was invented in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario
by the late Sam Jacks. There are currently over 25,000 players on nearly
2,000 teams across Canada with over 1,800 officials and 5,000 coaches.
Internationally, it is played in half a dozen other countries around the
world. For more information, please refer to the Ringette Canada Web site at
www.ringette.ca.
City of Ottawa has won the bid to host the 2007 World Ringette Championship.
The event, which will be held in November 2007, will see competition among
the world's top ringette athletes. Finland currently holds the world title
after defeating Canada at the 2004 World Ringette Championship held in
Stockholm, Sweden.
"Ringette Canada is thrilled to be hosting the 2007 World Ringette
Championship and are looking forward to welcoming elite international
ringette athletes to our country," said Joanne Dearden, president of
Ringette Canada. "We were extremely pleased with the quality of the
presentations from all four bidding communities, Kelowna, London, North Bay
and Ottawa. It was a difficult decision and, in the end, it proved to be a
case of choosing what we felt best fulfilled our requirements. We are
confident that Ottawa has the experience, capability and plan in place to
deliver an outstanding event."
The 2007 event will be the eighth world championship for the sport, with the
first event being held in Gloucester in 1990. While planning is in the early
stages, it is expected that the semi-final and final game will be held at
the Ottawa Civic Centre. Over 100 volunteers will be involved in the
planning and implementation of the event.
"I'm pleased Ottawa will host the 2007 World Ringette Championship," said
Mayor Bob Chiarelli. "Ottawa is a major event city. I know our city, people,
and facilities will make the tournament a success."
Ottawa is no stranger to hosting world-class sporting events, having
previously hosted the Canadian Figure Skating Championships, Grey Cup, World
Synchronized Skating Championships, Jeux de la Francophonie, Nokia Brier and
Memorial Cup. Ottawa also has a strong ringette community with over 2500
players calling the nation's capital home.
"We feel privileged to be able to host an event of this calibre and we
believe that Ottawa is ideally suited to creating a memorable experience for
all participants and spectators," said Rick Brooks, co-chair of the Ottawa
bid committee. "It will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase our country
and its capital city to the athletes from other countries and we hope to
involve the embassies of the attending nations in the event."
The City of Ottawa Ringette Association is the main association hosting the
event, with support from the Eastern Region Ringette Association and its
member organizations, as well as the Association de Ringuette Gatineau, and
the City of Ottawa. In addition to Rick Brooks, Allan Bateman and Linda Lugg
will co-chair the event. Collectively, the three co-chairs have 40 years of
ringette experience.
"Hosting the championship in Ottawa will have a very positive impact on the
local ringette community," added Mayor Bob Chiarelli. "The international
calibre of athletes participating in this event will greatly benefit our
local athletes, and raise the profile of ringette in Canada."
About Ringette
Ringette is a Canadian sport that was invented in 1963 in North Bay, Ontario
by the late Sam Jacks. There are currently over 25,000 players on nearly
2,000 teams across Canada with over 1,800 officials and 5,000 coaches.
Internationally, it is played in half a dozen other countries around the
world. For more information, please refer to the Ringette Canada Web site at
www.ringette.ca.