Manchester City Council in conjunction with the Manchester Magic & Mystics will play host to a number of international basketball squads over the following weeks.
They are also working in partnership with Basketball Scotland, British Basketball, the Amaechi Basketball Centre and the Millennium Powerhouse.
During the weekend of Friday 6 and Saturday 7 June, a three way triangular tournament will see the local ladies team, Manchester Mystics of the English National League Division 1, take on the Under 18 Women's Scotland National Team and the Great Britain Under 20s.
The tournament schedule is as follows: Friday 6 June: Mystics v Scotland 8pm at Millennium Powerhouse in Moss Side Saturday 7 June: Scotland v GB 2pm Amaechi Basketball Centre and GB v Mystics 4pm also at Amaechi Basketball Centre.
The tournament has been made possible thanks to the support and commitment of both the Amaechi Basketball Centre and the Millennium Powerhouse who have made their facilities readily available for the event.
The events are part of an ever-growing drive by both Manchester City Council and the Manchester Magic to provide great opportunities for local talent to develop as well as showcasing the City of Manchester as a great venue for International Events.
Sergio Lara-Bercial, Manchester Basketball Development Officer and Mystics and GB Head Coach said: "This was a great opportunity to expose our girls to a great level of competition we could not pass on. A lot of our players already play at an international level and all of them aspire to do so in the future so these games will get them a step closer to that dream."
Joe Forber from the Manchester Magic and Amaechi Basketball Centre said: "This is an excellent opportunity for Manchester youngsters to move on to a bigger stage with their basketball. The target of the Olympics 2012 should be a great incentive to any youngster to make it all the way to the top!"
Councillor Mike Amesbury, Executive Member for Arts & Leisure at Manchester City Council said: "We are committed to delivering a varied programme of sports provision in the city and work closely with fantastic organisations like the Amaechi Basketball Centre to ensure that young people have access to all available facilities and opportunities. This tournament is a fantastic showcase for Manchester's young talent and I wish them all the very best of luck."
Later in June (28 - 29), again the Amaechi Basketball Centre will host the U14 and U15 Boys and Girls Scottish National Squads over two days of action-packed mind-numbing matches.
The Scottish Boys will face 2 Manchester Magic sides over 3 games while the Girls will entertain the Manchester Mystics and guest team Ellesmere Port Panthers from Merseyside.
It promises to be a great spectacle where lots of international prospects for Scotland, England and of course GB will be competing.
Chief Executive at Basketball Scotland, Kevin Pringle, said: "Basketball Scotland are excited to be involved in the Manchester Tournament. It's a great opportunity for our squads to get some high-quality competition as they prepare for European Competition this summer. We look forward to a great tournament."
All games are FREE of charge and spectators are welcome.
Media contact:
Claire Keegan, tel 0161 234 4014