Glasgow to host youth world netball championships

THE best young netball players from around the world will compete in Glasgow’s new Emirates Arena this summer.

The 2013 World Youth Netball Championships will be held there from 22-31 August, the first time a world event in the sport to be hosted in Scotland since 1987.

Scotland will battle it out against 19 other countries in a bid to be crowned the best in the world at under-21 level. Among the nations already confirmed are netball giants New Zealand, England and Australia.

The event was launched yesterday by Netball Scotland’s new patrol, Olympic rowing gold medallist Katherine Grainger, whose home city is Glasgow.

She said: “For many young players, this summer’s World Youth Netball Championships will be the first step on a long and successful career in the game and it is fantastic they will be doing that in Glasgow. The event will bring together the best young players in the world for what will be ten days of genuinely world-class action.

“I really enjoyed playing netball during my school years. It is a fantastic way of getting more active and I am delighted to be able to give something back in my new role as Patron of Netball Scotland.”

Organisers are hoping to build on the success of the recent World Premier Club Challenge competition at the Emirates Arena, which was attended by around 2,500 netball fans.

Scotland Under-21 player Lynsey Gallagher said: “It is a very exciting time for netball in Scotland, with so many different netball events being showcased on home soil in the coming months.

“It is not every day that we get the chance to compete at such a high level at this age group and the fact we will be competing at home in Glasgow makes it even that more special.”

The event is being delivered in partnership between Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow City Council and Netball Scotland, with funding support from EventScotland and UK Sport.

Chairwoman of Netball Scotland, Freda Hutchison, added: “The World Youth Netball Championships will help inspire the next generation of netball players. We want to encourage and motivate women and girls of all ages to get involved in netball.”

Tickets for the 2013 WYNC, priced from £3 for children and £6 for adults plus booking fee, are now available from www.worldyouthnetball.com, or by telephoning 0141 353 8000. Full championships passes, costing £50, are also available.