North Shore City has won the bid to host the 2008 World Junior Table Tennis Championships.

Chief Executive John Brockies has called from Shanghai to give the good news.

John, together with Mayor George Wood and Paul Dunphy, presented our city's bid to the sport's international board.

As background, we're including the media release issued last week announcing our bid.

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BACKGROUND

North Shore City a world beater

Mayor George Wood is about to take off for Shanghai, China, in an effort to secure a world-class event for North Shore City.

The bid is for the 2008 World Junior Table Tennis Championships, which is expected to attract at least 400 competitors from around the world.

Mr Wood says it would bring economic as well as other benefits.

"We have a passion for sport and this is an opportunity for us to show that we can handle significant international events, as well as a chance to showcase our city," he says.

"We also have a high profile in table tennis. Li Chunli represented New Zealand at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002."

North Shore City's bid to host the 2008 World Junior Table Tennis Championships, which would be held at North Shore Events Centre and North Harbour Table Tennis Stadium, will be presented to the International Table Tennis Federation in Shanghai on May 3.

Competitors qualify through a continental championship, and between 16 and 24 teams are expected from throughout Europe, North America, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Oceania.
While on his first trip to China, Mr Wood will also take the opportunity to visit Qingdao City - a coastal trading town about two hours north of Shanghai - with a view to build relationships in Asia, where 13 per cent of North Shore City's population comes from.
"We need to look at how we can building relationships with cities to encourage an increase in trade, investment and exchange of ideas and people in fields such as science and technology, education, tourism, sports and the arts," he says.

"There's increasing inter-city rather than international; competition for business, trade and tourism growth and I think it's important we take a lead in developing key international relationships."

If the bid for the World Junior Table Tennis Championships is successful, the event will be held here in December 2008.
North Shore City also successfully bid for two other sporting events recently - in cycling and sailing.

The NZ Criterium Championships will be held on the streets of Takapuna later this year, and the Optimist National Championships will be held at Waiake Beach in 2006.

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