World Class Fencing Tournament For Belfast

As the world's sportsmen and women descend on China for next month's Olympics, Belfast is again proving its worth as an international sporting venue.

Belfast City Council has announced that it will host the 2009 World Junior and Cadet Fencing Championships.

Next April, the King's Hall will welcome around 1,000 athletes from up to 85 countries, in an event which includes individual and team competitions in both the men's and women's foil, epee and sabre weapons.

This will be the second time that the King's Hall has hosted a top international fencing competition: the Commonwealth Championships were staged at the south Belfast venue in September 2006.

Welcoming the announcement, Lord Mayor Tom Hartley commented: "This is fantastic news, and further cements the city's growing reputation for hosting successful international sporting competitions.

"Already this year, we have hosted the World One-Armed Golf Championships, and next month sees the World Blind Golf Championships, followed by the Commonwealth Ten Pin Bowling Championships at the end of November.

"Events such as these are important to Belfast and its economy, and the Council is extremely pro-active in attracting high profile events to the city: our research indicates that every £1 we spend on hosting major international events generates £42 in income for the city. They are also vital in helping promote a positive image of Belfast to a wider audience," said Councillor Hartley.

(BMcC)