AUCKLAND, New Zealand (CMC):

The International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) has formally welcomed New Zealand as the 2007 World Netball Championship (WNC) hosts.

New Zealand were given the right to stage the event after it was withdrawn from Fiji because of a military coup in that country in early December. And last week, Netball New Zealand (NNZ), the governing body for the sport, confirmed the venue and dates for the WNC - The Trusts Stadium in Auckland from November 10-17.

The 2007 WNC had been originally set for July in Suva, Fiji.

IFNA President Molly Rhone said Netball New Zealand's willingness to finalise the dates and venue so quickly is a major benefit, not only for the event organisation, but also allowing the competing teams maximum preparation time for the championships.

"IFNA would like to thank both Auckland and Christchurch for their offers, and welcome Auckland as the new host of 12th World Netball Championships in New Zealand," said Jamaican Rhone.

NNZ Board Chair Don Mackinnon said both Auckland and Christchurch provided compelling cases to host the World Netball Championships, but Auckland's offer was the preferred option for the Championships to be held in November.

Caribbean champions Jamaica, hosts of the last tournament in 2003, had indicated an initial interest in stepping in as substitute hosts when the event was moved from Fiji, but decided against it because competition from Cricket World Cup (CWC) in March would have stifled the Jamaica Netball Association's bid to find adequate sponsorship.