Event owners England Squash have
concluded a five-year agreement with the internationalSPORTgroup
which will guarantee the future of the British Open Squash
Championships as one of the world's leading events until 2012.
The new agreement follows a three-year deal struck between the
parties in August 2005 which led to successful stagings of the
'Wimbledon of Squash' in Manchester in October the same year and at
the University of Nottingham in September 2006.
The Dunlop British Open – Manchester 2007 will be held at the
National Squash Centre, home of the sport's Commonwealth Games
action in 2002, from 18-24 September.
The men's event will feature PSA Super Series status for the
first time since 2001, with the women's championship at WISPA
Gold level.
The two main events - which will be run alongside the world's most
successful annual Masters Championships, comprising 13
age-group events from O35 to O70 - will be guaranteed to maintain
this prize-level status from 2007 until 2012.
 "This
exciting new agreement demonstrates our continued commitment to
working in partnership with England Squash in establishing a solid
framework for the future of the British Open which will see the
tournament flourish as the most prestigious squash championships in
the world.
"internationalSPORTgroup are determined to make this new era for the
British Open a huge success and we are delighted to be working in
partnership with England Squash, with whom we share a new vision for
the event."
Paul Walters
internationalSPORTgroup
 |
 "We
are looking forward to building on the strengths of the relationship
that we have developed with Paul Walters and his international
SPORTgroup.
"The British Open is our strongest brand – and this five-year
agreement marks a new era for these prestigious and historic
championships, guaranteeing Super Series and WISPA Gold as minimum
status levels for at least the next six years.
"We share joint ambitions to continue to restore this great event to
its proper position as the world's premier championship."
Nick Rider
England Squash Chief Exec
 "I'm
delighted that we're developing our relationship with the
international
SPORTgroup with this agreement. It builds on two successful years
including a fantastic 2006 Open in Nottingham and the prospect of
another great event in Manchester next year."
Zena Wooldridge
England Squash Chairman |
22-Dec-06:
