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Calgary Wins Bid For 2008 Nationals |
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Calgary will be at the centre of a national spotlight next summer as our city hosts the 2008 Canadian Ultimate Championships (CUC). The Calgary Ultimate Association (CUA) secured the bid this past May and expects the summertime event to draw more than 60 teams, 1,200 players and hundreds of Frisbee fans from across Canada.
“Calgary has a legacy of excellence in hosting sporting events and we’re looking forward to making the 2008 Canadian Championships the best yet not only for the players, but also the fans and the Calgary community as a whole,” said 2008 CUC Director Dave McLean. “It’s an exciting spectator event, a chance to promote tourism in Calgary and a true showcase of one of Canada’s fastest growing sports.”
Started in the late 1960s, Ultimate (or Ultimate Frisbee as it is sometimes referred) is a fast-paced, team disc sport, that has developed into an international sport played in more than 50 countries worldwide. Built on a foundation of non-contact plays and self-referring, Ultimate is a unique entity yet combines many familiar elements of sports such as soccer, basketball, football and lacrosse. Athleticism and endurance are keys to the game, while crowds go wild for the signature “layout” catches and defensive blocks. Ultimate’s popularity is on the rise, said McLean.
“In Calgary alone, the sport has gone from one 8-team league to two distinct leagues with a combined roster of nearly 200 teams,” said McLean. “The interest is there, and I think having Calgary host the Championships will be a great draw for getting youth involved and spark a new generation of involvement in our leagues.”
CUC is the national championship for the sport of Ultimate in Canada, and determines which teams will represent Canada at the World Ultimate Championships held every two years. The 2007 tournament will be held in Toronto August 9 – 12, 2007. Calgary’s 2008 tournament is scheduled for August 14 – 17 and will be coordinated by the CUA and a core of local volunteers. Tourism Calgary partnered with the CUA to prepare the bid and will continue to support planning efforts leading up to the event.
For information on how to get involved in running and organizing the tournament email us: info@calgary2008.com
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 24 February 2008 )
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