ASB Launch Pioneering Squash Court For 2006 Commonwealth Games
Construction of the world's first ever portable glass squash court, which has the capacity to change from singles to doubles mode, is underway at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Australia in preparation for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
The court has been designed and created by leading German company ASB for the five Squash events at the Games in March, plus two major international events earlier - the 2005 Australian Open Singles Championships and the 2006 World Doubles Championships.
Construction of the court is due for completion on Sunday (18 December), with the court's inaugural event being the Australian Open from 3-7 January, followed by the World Doubles between 9-13 January.
The court will remain standing through to the completion of the Commonwealth Games, and the stadium will have a seating capacity for 2,000 patrons.
"We produced a similar court for the 2002 Commonwealth Games at England's National Squash Centre in Manchester, but this is the first truly portable court with movable side walls," said ASB founder Horst Babinsky.
"Our courts have set high standards around the world and this is the latest innovation in our bid to enhance the spectator appeal of the sport while providing ideal playing facilities for the competitors," added Babinsky.
Founded in 1965 in Germany, ASB have installed more than 5,000 squash courts in over 60 countries. Pioneering ASB courts have been used in the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, Pan American Games and numerous World Championships. The innovative company pioneered the 'ASB System Court' which features movable side walls for simple conversion from singles to doubles usage. By the end of 2006, ASB will have installed 380 new courts in the USA and completed more than 25 contracts in China.