About 1,000 of the world’s best baton twirlers will head to Abbotsford for the 2015 World Baton Twirling Federation (WBTF) International Cup.
The event will run from Aug. 5 to 9, 2015 at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sport Centre (AESC).
Dan Stefanson, executive director of Tourism Abbotsford, who led the preparation of the bid to host the international cup, states that “this will be one of the highest profile sporting events that Abbotsford has ever hosted.”
Sandi Wiemers, president of the WBTF, said the organization just completed the 2013 international cup in Almere, Netherlands, stating that it was the largest group of competitors they had seen.
“That is a testament to the growth of the sport of baton twirling around the world.”
Athletes will be representing approximately 15 to 20 countries including Croatia, Japan, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sweden, Slovenia, and the United States.
The Canadian Baton Twirling Federation (CBTF) was awarded the bid to host the event last summer at the World Federation meetings.
Jeff Johnson, CBTF president, said they pursued a number of cities to hold the event.
“After months of research, negotiations and visits to potential sites, Abbotsford emerged as the true winner.”
He added that “the top Canadian baton twirling athletes will be so proud to represent our country and compete to be world’s best on home soil.”
The delegations from around the world will begin arriving in Abbotsford the first weekend of August for officials’ meetings and practice regiments of the competing teams leading up to the start of the event.