The O2 has announced that the World Kabaddi League will begin its global tour at the London arena on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 of August 2014.
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 25 July and can be booked from AXS.com or via the booking line 08448 24 48 24.
The first Indian sports league with an international following will begin with a performance by leading Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar. A well-known Kabaddi fan, Akshay is co-owner of Speedy Singhs, one of the teams in the world league and is set to perform popular title tracks from his recent blockbuster movies.
Played in ‘circle style’, the league consists of eight teams who travel across three continents in their quest for victory.
Commenting on the upcoming event Akshay Kumar said: “I am excited about the World Kabaddi League. My performance will be dedicated to all the Kabaddi fans that have come to cheer their teams. The league is a step to promote the Indian contemporary sport and bring it closer to the fans all around the world”.
“We are delighted to bring some of the many top players from across the world to The O2 in London,” said Pargat Singh, Commissioner of the World Kabaddi League. Adding, “Beginning the league with a performance from Akshay Kumar will be a delight for fans and we’re grateful he can make time do this this”.
World Kabaddi League embodies strength, power, agility, tactics, entertainment, masculinity and aggression. It takes this indigenous Indian sport and redefines it for a world stage.
Kabaddi is a full contact team sport originating in India. Two opposing teams take turns to send a “raider” to the other’s territory, or half, and tag any one of the four “stoppers” of the opposing team. They then must return “home” within a 30 second time frame to win the raid, failing which the stoppers win the raid. The objective is to win as many points as possible either through raiders or through stoppers.
World Kabaddi League is a registered society. The aim of the organisation is to build a dynamic and sustainable global sports league that grows circle style Kabaddi as a professional sport and engages fans and business associates with world class sports entertainment, better value and the best experience and service.
About The O2:
The O2 is the world’s most popular music and entertainment venue. Since opening in 2007, The O2 has been visited by more than 50 million people and picked up awards including: Venue of the Year at the Music Week Awards, Venue of the Year at the Event Awards, Venue of the Year at the AEO Awards, Pollstar International Arena of the Year (seven consecutive years), Venue Team of the Year at the Event Awards, Best New Major Concert Venue, Venue of the Year at The Event Services Association and Favourite Venue at the TPI Awards.
In addition to the arena, The O2 is also home to indigo at The O2, which is a live performance space, an 11-screen Cineworld complex, Up at The O2 – an experience that allows visitors to walk across the roof of The O2, Brooklyn Bowl – a 12-lane bowling alley, 800 capacity live music space and 130 cover restaurant, and the The Avenue, which features 28 bars and restaurants.