Des Plaines may play host to world handball tourney

By Chris Clair

July 7, 2000 Web posted at: 11:57 AM EDT (1557 GMT)

DES PLAINES, Illinois (Daily Herald) -- Members of Des Plaines' Special Events Commission want to know more about an upcoming international handball tournament at the Lattof YMCA before agreeing to lend tournament organizers a financial and organizational hand.

The World Handball Championships, planned for Oct. 8 to 15, will use courts at the Lattof YMCA and Prairie Lakes center in Des Plaines and at the Forest View Racquet and Fitness Club in Arlington Heights.

The tournament, held every three years, should draw as many as 1,000 competitors from more than 12 countries, said Lenore Stevens, one of the event organizers. Stevens made a presentation to special events commission members Wednesday night.

Tournament organizers have asked Des Plaines officials for help host opening and closing ceremonies for the tournament, which will be broadcast on ESPN. They also asked for $200,000 to help pay for "incidentals" like transporting players and their families on special trips.

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Acting Des Plaines Mayor Tony Arredia said he wants the city to host tournament events on a grand scale, possibly including a Taste of Des Plaines and other events. But special events commission members on Wednesday said they don't know enough about how the tournament is being organized, who is sponsoring it or what's planned for players and their families.

"We've got a worldwide tournament coming to Des Plaines, but it's coming at the last minute," commission member Gloria Keane said. "I don't think we should give money unless we get something back for the community."

If the city helped put on some kind of opening ceremony, residents would be invited. But commission member Richard Ornberg said the cost of such a festival could quickly balloon with police overtime for crowd control, insurance and other costs.

While commission members said they're excited about the tournament, and the potential exposure for the city, they feel they need to know more before committing time and money. They plan to meet with tournament organizers Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Des Plaines city hall, 1420 Miner St.

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