World Team Squash Championships Engages Hong Kong Communities
The World Team Squash Championships 2024 are being held at the Hong Kong Football Club from December 9 to 15, with the support of the Squash Association of Hong Kong, China. In addition to the on-court competition, the event organisers have engaged with local communities through local schools and charities.
The opening ceremony of the "WSF World Team Squash Championships 2024" was held on December 8 at the Hong Kong Football Club. The ceremony featured 26 men's teams and 23 women's teams from 29 countries and regions meeting with the fans. Traditional lion and dragon dances were performed to promote Chinese culture to the participating athletes. This is the first time Hong Kong is hosting the WSF World Team Squash Championships, bringing together the men's and women's events simultaneously at the same venue for the first time, marking an important step towards gender equality.
The Hong Kong Football Club, committed to promoting sports in the community, invited students from 11 schools to attend matches for free. Most of the students are learning squash and were very excited to witness world-class squash competitions in person, participating in squash-themed games and experiencing the sport for themselves.
The organisers collaborated with various charitable organizations, including r é n, Bring in Change, Future Leaders, Splash Foundation, the Hong Kong New Arrivals Service Foundation, and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. They invited underprivileged youth and disadvantaged groups to experience squash and engage the community through the sport.
The organising committee and distinguished guests also took the opportunity to explore Hong Kong, riding the tram through the bustling city centre and taking a cruise to enjoy the scenic Victoria Harbour, immersing themselves in Hong Kong's culture and appreciating the harbour's beauty.
The WSF World Squash Team Championships 2024 is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps reinforce Hong Kong’s status as a centre for major international sports events. The “M” Mark is awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising an intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory sports calendar. This world-class event has attracted 49 teams (26 men's teams and 23 women's teams) and nearly 200 top players from around the world to compete for the world championship.
The opening ceremony of the "WSF World Team Squash Championships 2024" was held on December 8, where 26 men's teams and 23 women's teams from 29 countries and regions paraded and met with the fans. The ceremony was marked by a grand opening with traditional lion and dragon dances, showcasing Chinese culture to the participating athletes.
The traditional lion dance performance at the ceremony was aimed at promoting Chinese culture to the participating athletes from around the world.
The Hong Kong team has several players ranked among the world's top 100, and they are competing with the support of the home crowd.
The organizers provided free tickets to 11 schools, arranging for students to attend the matches. Most of the students are currently learning squash, and they are very excited to witness the squash matches in person.
The organising committee members and distinguished guests took the opportunity to explore Hong Kong, riding the tram and traversing the bustling city on Hong Kong Island, experiencing the vibrant charm of the metropolitan city.
The organising committee members and distinguished guests boarded a cruise ship to take in the sights of Victoria Harbour. They immersed themselves in the history of Hong Kong while also admiring the beautiful harbour scenery.
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About Hong Kong Football Club
Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) was founded in 1886 with a mission to facilitate the development of sporting activities in Hong Kong. It has followed a vision to be one of the leading not-for-profit sports clubs in the world.
Regarded as one of the finest sporting clubs in Asia, the 64,000-square-metre building offers the largest range of facilities among all the sports clubs in Hong Kong. HKFC not only provides Hong Kong with a world-class venue for many major international sports events, but also plays a key role in Hong Kong’s thriving sporting and social community.
About the World Squash Team Championships
The World Squash Team Championships are contested annually and pit squads of four players against each other as they compete for the title of World Champions. The 2024 edition, which is taking place in Hong Kong, China, from 09-15 December 2024, will be the first to feature concurrent men’s and women’s events, with previous editions alternating between the two annually.
About the World Squash Federation
The World Squash Federation (WSF) is the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised International Federation for squash. It is a member of the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF) and from 1 January 2025 an associate member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF).