CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – Mayor Clifford Lee and Basketball PEI Executive Director, Greg Lucas, jointly announced today that the 2006 Eastern Canadian Bantam and Mini Bantam Basketball Championships will be hosted in Charlottetown June 28th-July 2nd.

The Eastern Canadian Championships will bring together some of the best athletes and top teams in the eastern Canada, while showcasing the great sport of basketball. The Championships will be held at the University of Prince Edward Island Sports Centre and at High Schools throughout the City, with over 400 males and females participating between the ages of 13-14.

“Charlottetown has a well-earned reputation for staging first-class events and it is a real pleasure for our City to be hosting these Championships,” said Mayor Clifford Lee. “Major events contribute significantly to Charlottetown’s economy and increasingly, events have become a showcase for the City’s tourism industry. In addition to being attractions, events are also viewed as a strategic leisure travel trip motivator, driving increased visitation.”

“On behalf of City Council, I commend and congratulate the Organizing Committee for the vision and commitment put into successfully securing this event for Charlottetown,” said Mayor Lee. “I personally say thank you to the many volunteers who will help make the championships a reality.”

“Basketball PEI is very excited to have been awarded the hosting rights to the 2006 Eastern Canadian Bantam and Mini Bantam Basketball Championships,” said Basketball PEI Executive Director, Greg Lucas. “The event will be the largest basketball championship hosted by Basketball PEI. Prince Edward Island is moving forward in basketball development and Charlottetown has demonstrated its ability to execute major events having hosted numerous successful and high profile sporting events over the past number of years.”

For additional information on Basketball PEI or the event, visit www.sportpei.pe.ca.

The City continually pursues opportunities with partners for Charlottetown to host regional, national and international sporting and cultural events. The City recognizes the value of the events sector and is placing high priority on major events to stimulate tourism, economic and community growth.