Elite athletes including many who competed at the Vancouver Winter Olympics will be heading to Sheffield this month as the city plays host to a series of world and national sports competitions.

Sports men and women will be showcasing their talents across state-of-the-art facilities operated by Sheffield International Venues (SIV) during March as part of the city's 2011 major sports events programme.

More than 260 competitors will battle it out at the prestigious ETTA National Table Tennis Championships at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre from March 4-6.

The Betfred.com World Snooker Championship Qualifiers will also begin on the same date at the English Institute of Sport - Sheffield (EIS Sheffield) and run until March 15.

Snooker's most famous names will be at the EIS Sheffield, while down the road at the Motorpoint Arena, speed skating athletes from across the globe, including Vancouver Winter Olympians, will be bidding for medal success.

The ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships will take place from March 11-13. Hosted by The National Ice Skating Association (NISA), it is the first time the Championship has been held in England for ten years.

Thousands of future sports stars will also battle it out across a huge range of sports at the British University Championships (BUCS) from March 14-20 across various venues in Sheffield including Ponds Forge, EIS Sheffield and Don Valley Stadium.

Justine Foster, head of sport at Sheffield International Venues, said: "2011 is one of the biggest and best years for sports events in Sheffield and thanks to our world-class facilities and event delivery expertise, the city is fast becoming the international sporting destination of choice.

"With everything from table tennis to speed skating and snooker to swimming, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Alongside the elite stars and those who have competed at Olympic events it will be a great chance to see some of the country's future sports stars at the BUCS events."

It is estimated that the 2011 sports events programme will bring in over £6 million to the city as well as national and international coverage

It will position Sheffield as one of the leading UK sporting destinations ahead of the countdown to the 2012 London Olympics. 

For more information about any of the events including ticket details visit www.sivltd.com.