Liberec Region to host the World Junior Championship in Liberec! Local Talents from Liberec to compete in the Championship

Every sports event is a great addition and opportunity to get interested in both traditional and lesser-known sports activities for Liberec and its citizens, says Jaroslav Zámečník, the Mayor of the Statutory City of Liberec.

Liberec will be the home for six days to junior ball hockey players from six different countries. At the World Championship, residents of Liberec will have the chance to see junior players from Canada, the USA, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Slovakia. Of course, Czech players will also be present. Ball hockey is thriving in the Liberec Region, which is why this location was chosen to host the World Championship. "Why Liberec? The main reason was the presentation of ball hockey in this regional city and cooperation with the local club. The presence of three halls, excellent facilities, accessibility from the airport, and sufficient accommodation capacity near the halls were strong factors in the decision-making process. I believe that Liberec will be an experience that the players and fans will remember," emphasized Martin Komárek, the chairman of the Czech-Moravian Ball Hockey Association (ČMSHb), and added: "We expect increased promotion of youth ball hockey in this regional city as a result of the tournament. To promote ball hockey and the event itself, we are collaborating with the city, the region, local institutions, the hockey club's fan club, and the hockey club Bilí Tygři Liberec. We believe that this hockey city will not overlook the junior event. The local ball hockey club's activities and experience are also a strong support in organizing the event." Hockey club Bílí Tygři Liberec will provide the infrastructure for the event, which will take place in their arenas. Fans of ball hockey can look forward to the World Ball Hockey Championship in the Home Credit Arena and the Svijanská arena.

"Every sports event is a source of excitement and an opportunity for Liberec and its citizens to take an interest in both traditional and lesser-known sports activities. I believe that the World Championship in this sport discipline can inspire many people not only to take an interest in ball hockey but also to actively engage in it or at least give it a try," said Jaroslav Zámečník, the Mayor of the Statutory City of Liberec, regarding the World Junior Championship in Ball Hockey 2023. He continued, "Every sports event, especially on a global level, can inspire other undecided enthusiasts. And for children, it applies doubly. It serves as a strong motivation for them. I always say that time spent in active or recreational sports or even attending cultural events is a far better investment than lying in front of the TV or sitting at the computer. Dear residents of Liberec and all those who receive this message, do not hesitate and come. You will see that you will definitely not regret it!"

The Liberec Region supports this world-class event both morally and financially, said Jiří Čeřovský, the Deputy Governor of the Liberec Region

"Every globally renowned event taking place in the Liberec Region, regardless of the sports discipline, is fascinating. In the realm of sports, it holds significant importance for the region and serves as a representation, particularly as the first worldwide junior ball hockey event. By hosting the championship here, awareness of the statutory city of Liberec and the entire Liberec Region will once again increase. Ice hockey has a rich tradition in our region thanks to the Bílí Tygři Liberec, who have a large base of supporters. Hockey matches are beloved by fans of all age groups. I believe that due to the similarities between hockey and ball hockey, the same enthusiasm will be felt during the matches of the World Junior Championship. For some children and young athletes who may not be as adept at ice skating, the championship could be a stepping stone and motivate them toward ball hockey," said Jiří Čeřovský, the Deputy Governor of the Liberec Region, who is responsible for overseeing the Department of Education, Youth, Sports, and Employment. He added: "Come and support the young athletes, the junior world elite of ball hockey, right here in Liberec from June 28th to July 6th. Come and cheer on, and soak up the atmosphere of the World Championship in all its glory. The Liberec Region supports this world-class event both morally and financially, contributing 500,000 Czech korunas from its budget to the organization of the championship. We expect an exciting sporting spectacle and an attractive game for the spectators. It is a highly action-packed sport that will undoubtedly be worth watching."

The World Championship in Liberec is organized under the auspices of the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF), which recognizes that any world event hosted by the Czech Republic is worthwhile. "The Czech Republic is a fantastic place for hosting the World Junior Championship. This is the first official World Junior Championship since all nations have participated since 2019. Events in the Czech Republic are always well-organized. The Czech-Moravian Ball Hockey Association (ČMSHb) always provides adequate resources for the smooth running of the event. The Czech Republic always has enough volunteers and excels at planning world events; everything is highly structured," mentioned Elio Pascuzzo, the President of the International Street and Ball Hockey Federation (ISBHF).

Watch Liberec's homegrown players in the Czech ball hockey national teams! What program awaits them?

From June 28th to July 2nd, 2023, ball hockey players from around the world will compete for the titles of world champions in the junior categories under 16, 20, and 23 years old. From July 3rd to 6th, the tournament will feature under 18 juniors and under 21 junior women. The youngest ball hockey juniors have a packed schedule! In this category, a total of eight teams will compete, including two from Canada and two from the Czech Republic. The under 20 category will have five teams: Czech Republic, Canada, USA, Switzerland, and Slovakia. Similarly, the U23 tournament will feature the same five teams plus the Great Britain team. The U18 category will follow the same format as the under 20 juniors since only five teams are participating in this age group. Let's not forget about the talented under 21 junior women, who will have their place in Liberec to compete for the title of world champions. Alongside the Czech team, they will be challenged by teams from Canada, the USA, Slovakia, and Great Britain. The ball hockey hopes from Liberec will also take part in the championship. One of them is Marek Šťástka, a ball hockey player from Liberec, who will represent the Czech Republic in the U16 category. "I highly appreciate the opportunity to play at the World Junior Ball Hockey Championship in Liberec. It's actually the biggest ball hockey event one can attend. Every player dreams of playing in front of their own fans from their city, especially in front of their parents and friends. Personally, I see the whole championship as another opportunity to progress as much as possible in my career," Marek Šťástka admits and invites the fans: "I would like to invite the fans to the Home Credit Arena primarily for the best ball hockey matches you can see in the junior categories worldwide. We want to compete for medals, and therefore, we need the support of our fans."

Follow the upcoming World Junior Championship in Liberec 2023 on the website liberec2023.com, where the complete tournament schedule with match times for the Czech teams is already available! Buy tickets online at ticketportal.cz!