A breakthrough meeting between the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association and the International Billiards and Snooker Federation will see snooker in the International Olympic Committee-approved body of the World Confederation of Billiard Sports.
At the meeting in Sheffield it was agreed that the WPBSA and the IBSF would work jointly on the international development of the sport, through multi-sport events such as the World Games and Asian Games and perhaps even one day the Olympic Games. Snooker is already guaranteed to be a participation sport at the World Games in Columbia in July 2013, with 16 players from a minimum of 12 countries to play for gold, silver and bronze medals.
The strategy is intended to generate increased interest in the sport of snooker and unlock funding around the world to develop the sport through National Governing Bodies.
The WPBSA already works with National Governing Bodies engaged with the International Olympic Committee. Working jointly with the WCBS will allow the World Snooker Tour to be recognized as a world sport in the eyes of the IOC.
WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: "Snooker has progressed massively in recent years and this new agreement will open doors for us in new key markets to expand our sport.
"I would like to thank to members of the WCBS for their support and faith in the WPBSA as we strengthen our presence as one of the world's major sports.
"I believe that one day snooker will be an Olympic sport. Many sports receive substantial funding from the IOC to assist growth and increase participation. I'm very excited about what the future holds for snooker and the potential to pave a new way ahead."
Jim Leacy, President of the IBSF, said: "We are delighted to be working hand in hand with the WPBSA and this has given snooker at both professional and amateur levels the opportunity to strive for greater things."
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