UK SPORT today announced a major award of up to £339,000 from its Lottery-funded World Class Events Programme in support of the 2004 World Bowls Championships at Northfield in Ayr.
The Scottish Bowling Association (SBA) secured the rights to stage the most prestigious event in the sport’s calendar following a presentation made during the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. 24 nations will compete at the event in Ayr from July 23 – August 7 2004, with the top 16 from the previous world championships – including Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland – already assured of their places.
John Scott, Director of International Relations and Major Events at UK Sport, says that the event will provide a tremendous boost to the sport.
‘As the organisation responsible for staging world class events, UK Sport is delighted to confirm this award to the 2004 World Bowls Championships,’ he said. ‘The economic impact of the event to the local region alone has been estimated at £6 million. This, added to the development programmes being put in place by the Scottish Bowling Association, will ensure a lasting legacy for bowls in the UK.’
George Sneddon, one of Scotland’s leading bowlers and the current world pairs champion (with Alex Marshall), said that the funding from UK Sport was crucial for the success of the tournament.
‘I am delighted to learn of the large UK Sport Lottery award to World Bowls 2004,’ he said. ‘Everyone in Scotland wants to see successful games, even more so when they are taking place on home soil in 2004. This financial award is a tremendous bonus and it is good to see the contributions raised by Scottish bowlers have been recognised, as the game of bowls has a great support and following in this country.
‘I have no doubt the money will be used to good effect and, from a player’s point of view, this will go a long way to make the games professional, with players well turned out, looking good and feeling good. We will make every effort to ensure Scotland and the UK can be proud of the event.’
NORTHFIELD, THE CHAMPIONSHIP venue, is no stranger to staging major tournaments, having hosted the Scottish National finals and the British International Series for the last twelve years. The 2004 World Championships is expected to attract up to 35,000 spectators over the course of the two weeks.
A key component of the overall world championship package is the SBA’s commitment to a comprehensive development programme, backed by sportscotland, ensuring a lasting legacy for the sport once the bowlers have departed.
The programme, started two years ago, includes an identification scheme that has so far attracted over 100 umpires who will be assessed with a view to officiating at the world championships. The three-year plan also includes targets to recruit 240 new coaches and an additional 12,000 schoolchildren to the sport by 2003.
John Armstrong, Chairman of World Bowls 2004 Ltd, says that Scotland is ready to stage a truly world class event.
‘The time is right for the World Bowls Championships to return to Scotland for the first time since 1984,’ he said. ‘With the World Bowls Association now based in Edinburgh, and a playing base of over 100,000 members throughout the country, there can be no better host for this showpiece event than Scotland.
‘We are looking forward to putting on a tremendous show.’
For more information on UK Sport please visit www.uksport.gov.uk.
The World Bowls Championships
The two-week event, to be held from July 23 – August 7 2004, is a men-only competition comprising singles, pairs triples and fours. There is also a team event, the winners of which are decided by the overall results across the four individual disciplines.
Previous venues include:
* 2000 – Johannesburg, South Africa
* 1996 – Adelaide, Australia
* 1992 – Worthing, England
* 1988 – Auckland, New Zealand
* 1984 – Aberdeen, Scotland
The official event website can be found @ www.worldbowls2004.co.uk.
Finance
The total cost of staging the event has been estimated at £1 million, with UK Sport and the SBA providing the bulk of the funding. The remainder will come from sponsorship, ticket sales, merchandising and TV income. South Ayrshire Council are also upgrading the facilities at Northfield.
The SBA and its members have managed to raise almost £0.5 million over the last three years as their contribution to the event’s costs.
The economic impact to the region has been estimated at £6 million over the course of the two-week event.
For further information please contact:
Rob Burgess
UK Sport
T: 020 7841 9574
E: rob.burgess@uksport.gov.uk