The IFBA World Broomball Championships (WBC), formerly the "World Broomball Championships", is the premiere international competition for the sport of broomball and is organized and administered by the International Federation of Broomball Associations (IFBA). The competition is organized every even-numbered year and is held every two years in international locations using the skills and expertise of various host cities and member associations. Teams named after their respective nation such as "Team Canada" are monikers earned by the team which has won the most recent national tournament in their country of origin.
Unlike the provincial and national championships in Ontario and Canada, teams from a variety of countries apply rather than qualify to compete in the World Broomball Championships and there is no need to compete for entry. Most events now have a minimum of 48 teams and well over 1100 athletes attend. The vast majority of broomball players and teams are based in Canada or the USA and as a result most of the championships to date have been held in this part of the world.
Traditionally World Championships see teams enter from Canada, United States, Italy, Japan, Switzerland, France and Australia. Teams representing Austria, Slovenia and Germany, have also taken part but due to limited player numbers and broomball programs these nations are not able to attend each World Championship. Australia, Japan and Canada have sent teams to every World Championship.
History The World Broomball Championships (WBC) were initially known as the, "Challenge Cup". The largest number of teams ever registered for the world championships was seen in Ottawa, Canada at the 2012 World Broomball Championships.
The first World Broomball Championships were held in Victoria, British Columbia in 1991. The event was attended by over 800 athletes and 44 teams. The 1998 World Broomball Championships were held in Bolzano, Italy. The 2010 World Broomball Championships were held in Austria with venues in Innsbruck and Telfs, and were organized and run directly by the Board of the International Federation of Broomball Associations (IFBA). The 2014 World Broomball Championships were the eleventh edition of the championships and were held in Tomakomai, Japan. The 2016 World Broomball Championships were held in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and were hosted by the Saskatchewan Broomball Association, a member association of Broomball Canada. The 2018 World Broomball Championships were held in Blaine, Minnesota, United States. It was the thirteenth edition of the championships. The 2024 World Broomball Championships will be held in Mont-Blanc, France. It will be the fifteenth edition of the championships.
Competition format The World Championships are primarily held between member association national teams but club teams are also accepted. There are different divisions:
Men's - 2 divisions (full contact) Women's (non contact) Mixed (co-ed - non contact) Masters (non contact)
Champions
Key: WC = World Cup Division (top division) CC = Challenge Cup Division (second division) NAC = North American Cup (third division).
Year Host city Men's Champion Women's Champion Mixed (Coed)Champion 1991 Victoria Embrun Plumbing Amigo Bécancour (Qc) Selkirk Flying Angels 1996 Victoria Ottawa Not Contested Edmonton Selects 1998 Bolzano Montreal Not Contested Minnesota Flames 2000 Victoria Ottawa Nationals Not Contested Edmonton Extreme 2002 Minneapolis USA Red Not Contested Cabano 2004 Corner Brook Ottawa Nationals Durham Angels Briquetal 2006 Blaine Le Frost (WC) St Paul Barons (CC)
Colorado Crusaders (NAC) Minnesota Selects (WC) Australia Dingoes (CC) East Ontario Wildcats (WC) Manitoba Rebels (CC) 2008 Vancouver Le Frost (WC) McMillan Sand and Gravel (WC) Eastern Ontario Wildcats (WC) 2010 Innsbruck Le Frost (WC) Ottawa Icemen (CC) Italy Girls (WC) Lapierre Sport / Olymel Cornwall (CC) Canada - New Brunswick (WC) Broomball Club Belluno Mixed (CC) 2012 Ottawa Ottawa Nationals Ottawa Stars Broom-Shak Bécancour (QC) 2014 Tomakomai Ravens Yellowknife (NWT) Rebels Yellowknife (NWT) GT Quebec (QC) 2016 Regina Ottawa Nationals Huskies (QC) Broom-Shak Bécancour (QC) 2018 Blaine Ottawa Nationals (ON) Amigo Bécancour (QC) Broom-Shak Bécancour (QC)2019202020212022 Kingston Minto Selects Team Canada(Eastern Rebels) Team Canada(Broom-Shak Bécancour)2024 Mont Blanc Helicopters Canards gris d'Amérique Squall
See also Broomball Broomball Canada Broomball Australia USA Broomball
References
External links International Federation of Broomball Associations