Massive Promotion Underway for 3rd Test.
THE benefits of sports tourism are expected to be on display in a big way next Tuesday when West Indies clash with India in the third Test match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
The St. Lucia Tourist Board is organizing a massive drive to boost attendance at the Ground on the opening day of the scheduled five-day Test match, which ends next Saturday.
The Board is banking on political parties, the business sector, private organizations and the euphoria that was evident at recently held events, like carnival and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 cricket matches that were played on the field.
“We need to think that it is not just a Test match. We need to zoom it on the people who would be attending. This is a time where athletes can meet with officials and create a social bond…Media coverage is very important in the development of sports tourism. For instance, this match has attracted 10 sports networks that will be coming to cover not only the match but other events happening in St. Lucia,” said Jema Lorde, the Tourist Board’s Marketing Manager for Niche Markets.
She called on St. Lucians to support the Board’s efforts at promoting sports tourism as the country stands to benefit in the long-term.
But the campaign to fill the ground to an acceptable level also comes following declining attendances over the years for the long version of the game whether it has a local, regional or international flavour.
This is in huge contrast to the shorter version of the game known as 20/20 cricket, which sometimes sees the ground filled to capacity.
The Board, at a press conferenceThursday, urged St. Lucians to come out in large numbers since the West Indies team has shown that it can get runs against India, the second ranked cricket team in the world and that it could weather an Indian attack.
“I think the West Indies team will be stronger and better against India at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground,” renowned cricket commentator (retired) and sports personality, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira, said, adding that the team will be more aggressive and competitive this time around.
He said the Board had engaged the main political parties, namely the St. Lucia Labour Party and the United Workers Party, to put out statements calling on their supporters to attend the game.
The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce has been contacted, too, and told to sensitize its members to attend the game.
St. Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA) has promised to send a contingent to the game, according to Perreira, as well as LUCELEC.
St. Mary’s College and the Piaye Secondary School have been invited to send students to the game, and two medical schools on the island have been lobbied, said Perreira.
“The world will be watching to see what type of numbers St. Lucia will provide on the opening day,” Perreira said.
Despite his hope for an exceptional turn-out come Tuesday, Perreira says he is not expecting a sell-out crowd but rather a decent crowd.
Guyana Honorary Consul to St. Lucia, Lokesh Singh, has called on all Guyanese living in St. Lucia to attend the test match.
“As passionate and avid cricket fans and enthusiasts, I urge you all to find some time to attend the 3rd Test Match between India and the West Indies being hosted at the Daren Sammy National Cricket Ground from August 9 – 13, 2016. Our young Test Cricketers have shown that they are up to the challenge with a great fight back at Sabina Park, Jamaica in their efforts to try and conquer the touring Indians. Let us give them our full support and turn out in our numbers and colours….,” Singh said.