The line-up, one of the most impressive and diverse in any UK city outside of London and outlined in detail by City Council Leader Paul Scriven (pictured third from left), features eight world championships or world level events, three European level championship events, 20 national championships and four mass-participation events with more than 25,000 people.

The value to the local economy has been estimated to be in excess of £6 million ($9.5 million) – further recognition that the sport, leisure and tourism sectors are some of the keys to unlocking growth and wealth for the region.

Ten of the events will receive national and international television coverage – projecting Sheffield, its facilities and brand to millions across the globe.

Highlights of the programme include the high profile $172,000 (£108,000) English Open Table Tennis Championships, the World Short Track Speed Skating Championship, the FINA World Diving Cup, the Yorkshire International Show Jumping, the European Synchronised Swimming Champions Cup, the European Fencing Championships, the four-day Sainsbury's UK School Games, and the ITTF British Open Disability Table Tennis Championships.

In addition, Sheffield will once again play host to the returning two-day Aviva Indoor UK Athletics Trials and Championships, the Betfred World Snooker Championships and the six-day BUCS (British Universities) Championships.

Sheffield-based Olympians and Paralympians Ben Swain – three metre springboard diver - and Scott Robertson - paralympic table tennis player – (both pictured with councillor Scriven) heard that more than 20 Olympic and Paralympic sports will be contested as part of the programme, making it one of the biggest outside of London in the countdown to 2012.


Scriven said: "This is a world-class sporting programme and one that the city should be proud of.

"It gives us all a terrific boost going into 2011 and sets a benchmark of where we want to be as an international sporting destination of choice.

"Sheffield people will have the chance to see the sporting best of the best alongside our very own Sheffield-based Olympians in the making.

"In addition, more than 500 local people – from young to old - will have the opportunity to volunteer to help the events programme provide a special Sheffield welcome to competitors and officials.

"Six of the events being staged are directly related to the fact that the Olympics are coming to London in 2012 – which shows how Sheffield is leading the rest of the country in taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the Olympics.

"The programme will provide £6 million ($9.5 million) extra in the local economy, bringing a welcome boost to our local hotels and other businesses.

"What's more, with the international media coverage we can expect this will be yet another opportunity to show Sheffield off right across the world."

Scriven added that the programme is testimony to the work of the Council's major sports event unit, Activity Sheffield, Sheffield International Venues and partners Welcome to Yorkshire, UK Sport, Marketing Sheffield, Hospitality Sheffield and the city's universities.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: "This promises to be a bumper year for events and sport in Sheffield and Welcome to Yorkshire is delighted to get behind this to help show everyone what our county has to offer.

"There are a huge variety of events in store which we support ranging from snooker and speed skating to diving and fencing – all of which will help to further raise the profile of Sheffield and the great county of Yorkshire."

Simon Morton, head of major events at UK Sport, said: "It is vitally important that world-class events such as these are secured and staged in the UK to help prepare athletes, event organisers and volunteers for 2012.

"Bringing major events to cities such as Sheffield allows people across the UK to see world-class action on their own doorstep and, as the agency responsible for bringing major sporting events to the UK, we are determined that we see even more in future years.

"Sheffield has repeatedly shown that it is capable of hosting world level events, and we are delighted to be supporting some of the highlights of their 2011 schedule through our Lottery-funded events programme."

Steve Brailey, chief executive of Sheffield International Venues – operators of the majority of the facilities being used for the programme – said: "The events will showcase our world-class sporting facilities in Sheffield as well as our expertise in staging and delivering sport and events at elite and grassroots levels."

Sheffield Chamber of Commerce President Yuri Matischen said: "The events programme is not only stunning in terms of range but vindication of the investment by the city in its sporting facilities, infrastructure and people over the last two decades.

"Sport is a key economic plank of the local enterprise partnership.

"The events programme will help keep people in work and contribute to growing wealth across the city.

"The trick now is to ensure that 2011 and Olympic year are sustained and that we aim to ensure that 2013 can be maintained so that Sheffield continues as a leading world sports event destination."