Queensland will host the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2012 for the first time ever in an event which will see the best young cricket talent in the world playing in Brisbane, on the Sunshine Coast and in Townsville next year, Premier Anna Bligh announced today.
Securing the event, through a partnership with Events Queensland, Cricket Australia and Queensland Cricket, represents a major milestone for cricket in Queensland - and it's only the second time in the event's 24-year history it's been held in Australia.
"This is great news for Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Townsville because it will bring the best young cricketers in the world here to play locally," Ms Bligh said.
"This is a first for Queensland and it's the only the second time Australia has hosted the competition - the last time being in 1988 in Melbourne and Adelaide.
"This event will deliver an economic shot in the arm to the host communities and showcase Queensland to the world - attracting 400 players and officials from 16 countries and generating an expected 7,000 bed nights for the local tourism industry."
"In addition, it will be televised into the homes of cricket fans in more than 100 countries including in Asia, the UK and South Africa via broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports."
Sports Minister Phil Reeves said the event - held every two years - had also previously been held in countries including New Zealand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and South Africa.
"This is a truly international event that further cements Queensland's status as the Australian events state," Mr Reeves said.
"It's particularly exciting to be hosting it in 2012 because Australia is the current defending champion after winning the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in 2010."
"Having this event here in Queensland as the chosen location in Australia next year is a vote of confidence in our ability to host major sporting events of international significance."
Ms Bligh and Mr Reeves thanked the ICC, Cricket Australia, Queensland Cricket and Events Queensland for their partnership which had delivered the event to Queensland.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said: "The ICC U19 Cricket World Cup is the showcase event for best young cricketers in the world and is where the next Cameron White or Yuvraj Singh gets their first real taste of top-level international cricket.
"It was only a couple of years ago we saw Mitch Marsh captain the Australia Under-19 team to victory in New Zealand with talents such as Josh Hazlewood, Alister McDermott and Alex Keath alongside him.
"We are very grateful to Queensland Cricket and Events Queensland for their support in hosting this tournament and I think all the teams and supporters will enjoy their time in Australia's sunshine state.
"We are building towards hosting the senior ICC Cricket World Cup in 2015 and this tournament will play a big part in getting ready for that event."
Queensland Cricket CEO, Graham Dixon, said: "Queensland Cricket is thrilled at the decision to bring the ICC U19 World Cup to our State, and especially with the decision to play in two important regional centres, Townsville and the Sunshine Coast, with the resulting positive economic impact on those areas."
"The support of the State Government and Events Queensland will enable Queensland to provide an international showcase around this tournament, which has grown into a significant event on the world cricket stage.
"Queensland Cricket is acutely aware that the ICC World Cup will be staged in Australia and New Zealand in 2015 and so tournaments like the Under-19 World Cup are an important proving ground for us, and for Cricket Australia, as it gets closer to hosting that major event.
"The support of government at all levels will be a vital part of our collective preparations for 2015, but I know that Queensland Cricket is looking forward to working closely with all of our stakeholders to make the Under-19 World Cup a memorable and successful event."
The event will be held in August next year. Further details of venues, ticket sales and match timings will be announced closer to the tournament.
The tournament will be the ninth ICC U19 Cricket World Cup which started in 1988 with the inaugural event in Melbourne.
Australia has won the event three times - taking home the inaugural title in 1988, then again in 2002 and also last year's event in New Zealand.
(Source: www.eventsqld.com.au )
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