Prague, April 22, 2009 – On the 17–27 June, there is held the FIL Women’s World Cup Championships in the sports center Slavia in Prague’s Vršovice district. The lacrosse event of s such level is organized in the Czech Republic for the first time and it will be the most remarkable lacrosse event that has ever been held in this country. Sixteen teams are going to compete at the event, which is the highest number ever in the tournament history. The winner of the last Women’s World Cup back in 2005 is team of Australia. The event is organized by the Czech Women’s Lacrosse and has been assigned a patronage from the Prague’s mayor Pavel Bém, the president of the Czech Association of Sports and Physical Education Vladimír Srb and from the city mayor of Prague 10 Vladislav Lipovský.

 

“We feel honored to have been entrusted with the facilitating of the World Event by the Federation of International Lacrosse.” said Veronika Brychcínova, the Czech Women’s Lacrosse president. “Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports in the world and we believe that the World Cup can help to popularize the game not only in our country but also in the whole Europe.”

 

The event is going to host sixteen national teams which will be playing in four groups. The spectators thus will be able to see around four hundred players from all over the world. The Czech team is ranked in the second group together with Wales, Scotland, Germany and New Zealand. Beside the previous World Champions, the US team and the team Australia, there are going to be all existing national teams including the Haudenousaunee team, the team of the Iroquai nation for which lacrosse is a national sport. This is where lacrosse has its roots, with the North American Indians who have been playing the game back in the first century and for whom the sport still have deep spiritual importance. For the Czech team, this is going to be the third appearance at the World Cup.

 

The event is starting on the June 17 with the opening ceremony and the world champion will be known by the June 27. The World Event will be accompanied with other interesting minor events such as traditional Prague Cup tournament, both men’s and women’s. Junior Prague Cup is going to be held shortly after the World Cup, July 8–11.

 

Most of the matches are played at the Sports centre Slavia Praha. The final day is going to be held at the neighboring main football stadium, Synot Tip Arena in Eden. Along with the top matches of the event, the bronze and gold medal games [at 10 am and 3 pm respectively] the spectators can look forward to the exhibition games of the women’s and men’s Czech national teams.

 

„We hope to attract as many spectators as possible. The entry for the final day is going to be for free.“ said Veronika Brychcínova.

 

 

World Cup is an ideal occasion to introduce the game to the public and to attract new players. Therefore there are organized school programs „Let’s see Lax“ and „Give school report – Get free lacrosse ticket“ where the feel of the game can be tried out by the participants.

 

The Prague Cup is played at the same venue at Slavia in dates June 17 – 20 [men] and June 22–25 [women].

 

Detailed information on the World Cup can be found at

www.lacrosseworldcup2009.cz.

 

 

Contact for Media:

AC&C Public Relations, s. r. o.

Adéla Konopková

tel.: +420 220 513 680

mob.: +420 736 751 169

fax: +420 220 518 209

e-mail: adela.konopkova@accpr.cz

 

Jana Wolfová

FIL Women’s Lacrosse World Cup 2009, PR & Media manager

mob.: 00420 737 237 153

e-mail: janiska@lacrosse.cz