Big Weekend for World Class Events
SubscribeLee Taylor 12 August 2009
UK Sport is supporting three major events this weekend through its National Lottery World Class Events Programme (WCEP), kicking off a busy period of funded international competition on home soil.
Fans will be able to watch British athletes compete at the 2009 Modern Pentathlon World Championships, which get underway on Thursday in Crystal Palace, and the Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby GB Cup, which begins in Sheffield on Friday. Both events continue across the weekend, which also sees the ITU World Triathlon Championships Series London take place in Hyde Park on Saturday.
Working with National Governing Bodies, cities & regions and home country agencies, UK Sport helps to bid for and stage major events on home soil. The events help to give athletes the opportunity to experience ‘Home Advantage’ as they look ahead to the possibility of representing Great Britain in London in just over three years time.
At Hyde Park on Saturday, Britain’s triathletes will experience the 2012 venue first-hand, with Alistair Brownlee, who has won all three of the events he has entered in this series, looking to make it four victories from four with a home crowd cheering him on. Meanwhile, around 100 of the world’s top male pentathletes and 60 of the top women will compete in Crystal Palace, which will include Britain’s Olympic silver medallist Heather Fell. Elsewhere, in Sheffield, Britain will open proceedings against Canada at the inaugural Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby GB Cup.
“We are delighted that these competitions are taking place in the UK this weekend,” said Simon Morton, UK Sport’s Senior Events Consultant. “To hold these world class events – and indeed the subsequent events over the next couple of weeks – on home soil will not only aid the preparation of our athletes, but also event managers, officials and volunteers in the build up to the London Olympic and Paralympic Games."
Later this month, the UK will also play host to the European Jumping and Dressage Championships in Windsor, the RS:X & Techno World Championships in Weymouth, and the BTCB British A-Class International Championships, as taekwondo action comes to Manchester.
Most Viewed
- 2010 medal targets announced by UK Sport
- 2011 major events announced as UK Sport aims to set 'international benchmark' for host nations
- Latest Mission 2012 report shows British sport on track for London
- Liz Nicholl: Being inspired by young people in Jordan
- International Inspiration Ambassador, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson marks International Day for Disabled People
Explore UK Sport
The A to Z directory of UK Sport
