Int'l Netball Federation President Molly Rhone has declared the Netball World Cup in Sydney "as the most successful in history," according to Tom Decent of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Rhone: "Yes, I think definitely. They [organizers] have done a marvelous job and this will be a hard event to beat." Australia has not hosted the Netball World Cup since '91 and organizers "wanted to make up for lost time by creating a tournament different to anything before it." With Allphones Arena -- which holds just under 17,000 people -- available to use, there was always going to be a "realistic chance of breaking the world record for the largest netball crowd." The milestone was achieved on day three of competition -- something tournament CEO Marne Fechner "jokingly said she hoped would have happened two days earlier." Fechner: "Our ticket sales are well beyond our expectations. We're really pleased in terms of where the event has gone. We will set completely new benchmarks for netball and about what a World Cup can do and that's because we've got a magnificent facility." Merchandise sales "are three to four times what they would be for a Test series." Every match is broadcast live on TV. Organizers hope this year's World Cup "leaves not only a legacy, but sets a benchmark for future international competitions." Four years from now, Liverpool will host the World Cup (SMH, 8/15).
