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| Gay and inclusive rugby's Bingham Cup comes to Manchester | Gay and inclusive rugby's Bingham Cup comes to Manchester |
| (10 months later) | |
| The world championships of gay and inclusive rugby come to Manchester this weekend, and the city's own Village Spartans hope to do well in the biggest event of its kind so far. | The world championships of gay and inclusive rugby come to Manchester this weekend, and the city's own Village Spartans hope to do well in the biggest event of its kind so far. |
| They'll be tackling sides such as the New York Gotham Knights, the current holders of the championship's trophy, the Bingham Cup, which is named after the gay rugby player Mark Bingham who died on 9/11 in United flight 93, the hijacked plane which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. | They'll be tackling sides such as the New York Gotham Knights, the current holders of the championship's trophy, the Bingham Cup, which is named after the gay rugby player Mark Bingham who died on 9/11 in United flight 93, the hijacked plane which crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. |
| More than 30 clubs from 15 countries are involved in the event, with 1500 players and loyal fans already booked in. Their main cities of origin – Amsterdam, Dublin, Ottawa,Stockholm, Sydney and Washington – have the extra advantage of coinciding with target markets for Manchester tourism industry. | More than 30 clubs from 15 countries are involved in the event, with 1500 players and loyal fans already booked in. Their main cities of origin – Amsterdam, Dublin, Ottawa,Stockholm, Sydney and Washington – have the extra advantage of coinciding with target markets for Manchester tourism industry. |
| This is worth an estimated £5.8 billion a year now, a fact which might startle those who still think in terms of a grimy city of business and trade which didn't care overmuch what visitors thought about it. Manchester has had its eye on the Bingham Cup for some while, bidding to host it back in July 2010 and getting persuasive supporters within the game on board. | This is worth an estimated £5.8 billion a year now, a fact which might startle those who still think in terms of a grimy city of business and trade which didn't care overmuch what visitors thought about it. Manchester has had its eye on the Bingham Cup for some while, bidding to host it back in July 2010 and getting persuasive supporters within the game on board. |
| These include former British Lions and Wales captain Gareth Thomas who will host the event's gala dinner, and Ben Cohen, the former England rugby World Champion player, who has been a staunch advocate for gay and inclusive teams within the sport. On the eve of the tournament, Cohen says: | These include former British Lions and Wales captain Gareth Thomas who will host the event's gala dinner, and Ben Cohen, the former England rugby World Champion player, who has been a staunch advocate for gay and inclusive teams within the sport. On the eve of the tournament, Cohen says: |
| I'm passionate that anyone, regardless of their background, should be able to play rugby. Events such as this tournament show how rugby has become more inclusive and it also helps break down barriers and bring more people into the sport. | I'm passionate that anyone, regardless of their background, should be able to play rugby. Events such as this tournament show how rugby has become more inclusive and it also helps break down barriers and bring more people into the sport. |
Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, says: | Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, says: |
| Manchester has one of the largest gay communities in the UK and is a true sporting city in every sense of the word. We recognise the importance of hosting international tournaments and have an impressive track record of delivering first class sporting events. As such, we are an ideal host city for the Bingham Cup and look forward welcoming the teams to our city. | Manchester has one of the largest gay communities in the UK and is a true sporting city in every sense of the word. We recognise the importance of hosting international tournaments and have an impressive track record of delivering first class sporting events. As such, we are an ideal host city for the Bingham Cup and look forward welcoming the teams to our city. |
| The tournament is based at Broughton Park RUFC from tomorrow, Friday 1 June, until Sunday. All details of fixtures are here and the event is on twitter.com/manchester2012 | The tournament is based at Broughton Park RUFC from tomorrow, Friday 1 June, until Sunday. All details of fixtures are here and the event is on twitter.com/manchester2012 |
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