Hong Kong ‘honoured’ to host 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship, Fong says
- City’s lacrosse boss Raymond Fong hopes hosting event will boost growth of sport
- World Lacrosse chief ‘thrilled’ to be bring championships to Asia for the first time
Hong Kong will host the women’s under-20 lacrosse championship in 2024, the first time the tournament is held in Asia.
Raymond Fong, the CEO of the China Hong Kong Lacrosse Association, said his organisation was “honoured” to be hosting the event, which will feature teams from around the world.
In announcing the decision, World Lacrosse called the city the “perfect host” for one of the top events on its schedule.
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“We are honoured that World Lacrosse has chosen Hong Kong as the host city of the 2024 World Lacrosse Women’s U20 Championship,” Fong said.
“It will be the first time this tournament is held in Asia, and we hope to see the local community and international fans supporting this major sports event and support the growth of lacrosse in Hong Kong.”
Mong Kok Stadium, which seats 6,500 spectators and serves as a regular venue for Hong Kong Premier League Football matches, will host the opening game, semi-finals and medal games, with other matches taking place at Tai Hang Tung Recreation Ground.
The competition will be the seventh edition of the event, and the first to be hosted in Asia. A total of 23 teams competed in the last edition of the event in 2019 in Canada, where the United States captured won a fifth gold medal.
Jim Scherr, World Lacrosse CEO, said the game’s governing body was “thrilled to bring this world championship to Hong Kong”.
“The worldwide development of lacrosse can be shown through the ascension of the China Hong Kong Lacrosse Association this century and through this event, which becomes more competitive with more talented players every time it is held,” he said.
“I know the lacrosse community will benefit from seeing our sport thrive in more hotbeds around the world, and specifically in 2024 with Hong Kong’s support.”
Hong Kong will host its first World Lacrosse championship since the city’s lacrosse association was founded in 1993.
Hong Kong sent its first team to a senior-level championship in 2002 at the men’s championship, and has competed at the women’s championship since 2013. The city’s team took part in the women’s U20 championship for the first time in 2019.
