UCI BMX World Championships awarded to Australia Autor: Administrator (marek.psenicka@centrum.cz), Téma: News BMX Vydáno dne 21. 09. 2006 (2948 přečtení) The UCI (International Cycling Union) today awarded the hosting of the 2009 BMX World Championships to Australia. The Championships will be staged in Adelaide, South Australia and the bid received substantial support from SA Events, a division of South Australian Tourism. The 2009 Worlds will be held indoors at the Wayville Showground and organisers expect around 1800 entrants from an anticipated 35 countries. BMX Australia National President Graham Arnold says the event will provide a fabulous opportunity for competitors from the southern hemisphere. “It is not well known that BMX Australia has the second largest competitor membership in the world, and events of this magnitude allow those riders to experience the excitement of world class competition in their own backyard,” said Mr Arnold of the event for which 600 Australians can qualify across a range of divisions and age groups. “The inclusion of BMX into the Olympics has seen strong growth at all levels”, he said, “Although it (Olympics) will directly impact on only five elite athletes, the fact is the increased profile of BMX will benefit everyone in the BMX community." Cycling Australia President, Mike Victor, who is in Salzburg, Austria where the UCI Commission meeting was held, says the event will again showcase Australia's expertise in mounting major events. "Australia has a fabulous track record in organising major sporting events and SA Events has extensive cycling experience," said Mr. Victor. "We look forward to welcoming the world's star BMX riders to South Australia for what, I am sure, will be a hugely successful Championships." Cycling Australia website www.cycling.org.au BMX Australia Tel: 03 9654 2790 or website www.bmxaustralia.com.au