Sports

Sports Exchanges Scripting a New Chapter in China-Barbados Friendship

Article by H. E. YanXiusheng, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Barbados

Sports, as the universal language of humanity, not only showcase the great spirit of breaking limits but also carries the splendid dreams of national prosperity and ethnic rejuvenation. China, adhering to development ideology centered on the people, has transitioned comprehensively from a major sports country to a world sports power, achieving remarkable success in the field. China vigorously implements a national strategy for fitness-for-all, and as of the end of 2023, the nation boasted 4.59 million sports venues, an average of 2.89 square meters of sports venues per capita, and over 400 million regular participants in sports activities, making sports an integral part of the healthy and happy life of the Chinese people. China actively organizes competitive sports, hosting events such as the National Games and undertaking international competitions like the Olympics and Asian Games. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Chinese athletes have won 3,913 world championships and set 1,397 world records. The total scale of China’s sports industry has repeatedly reached new highs, with an expected value surpassing 5 trillion RMB by 2025, providing momentum and contributing to the comprehensive construction of a socialist modern country.

Sports serve as a bridge for friendship and peace, providing an effective means to promote dialogue, understanding, and connectivity among different peoples and civilizations. In recent years, under the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and Barbados, sports exchanges and cooperation between the two countries have deepened, yielding fruitful results. In 2017, China completed and delivered the renovation project of the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex to Barbados, which has become one of the island’s most important cultural and sports activity centers. In 2020, the Embassy of the PRC in Barbados collaborated with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment of Barbados to create the “Chinese Ambassador Sports Fund.” This fund offers financial aid for Barbadian athletes’ training, organized sports events, and grassroots sports development. In 2022, an exchange of notes on the China-Aid National Stadium Redevelopment project was signed by China and Barbados, which is expected to become a new landmark in Barbados and a new benchmark for China-Barbados friendship upon completion. In 2023, Mr. Wu Cong, a Chinese-designated table tennis coach to Barbados, led the Barbadian national table tennis team to compete in the Central American and Caribbean Games pre-qualifiers and the Caribbean Championships. They achieved excellent results of third place in the men’s team category twice, continuing the legend of China-Barbados table tennis friendship.

For a tree to grow tall and luxuriant, its roots must run deep and strong. For a source to flow long and enduringly, its origins must be profound and abundant. The people of China and Barbados both love sports and pursue healthy lifestyles, indicating broad prospects for cooperation in the field of sports between our two countries. We believe that under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, inspired by the vision of a community of shared future for mankind, pragmatic cooperation in the field of sports between China and Barbados will surely yield even more fruitful results, benefiting both our two countries and peoples! (PR)

Sports

West Indies victorious against England in the third ODI

Article by David Harris

Keacy Carty made his first One Day International (ODI) century and opener Brandon King scored an entertaining hundred to lead the West Indies to a series winning eight wicket victory against England in the third One Day International (ODI) against England at Kensington Oval on Wednesday night.

Chasing 264 runs to win the match and the series, the West Indies made 267 for two wickets off 43 overs.

Carty was unbeaten on 128 and King the Man of the Match made 102, they were involved in a 209 –run partnership West Indies highest for any wicket against England.

Carty faced 128 balls during his entertaining innings, he counted 15 fours and two sixes, and King who was dropped by Jordan Cox off Jofra Archer struck 13 fours and one six off 117 balls.

King and Evin Lewis (19) shared an opening stand of 42 before Lewis was caught at mid-wicket by Adil Rashid off fast bowler Jamie Overton. His dismissal paved the way for the King and Carty show; the pair took the score to 251 before King was bowled by Reece Topley in the 40^th over.

Earlier, England scored 263 for eight wickets after the West Indies won the toss and opted to field. The visitors were in deep trouble at 24 for four wickets in the 10^th over, but opener Philip Salt (74) repaired the damage, he was supported Dan Mousley (57), Sam Curran (40), Archer made a brisk 38 from 17 balls, and Jamie Overton contributed 32.

Medium pacer and Man of the series Matthew Forde captured two wickets for 35 runs, and Alzarri Joseph and Romario Shepherd picked up two wickets.

Sports

Barbados Open Water Festival Ready To Make A Splash

The highly anticipated Barbados Open Water Festival (BOWF) started November 6 and runs to 10, 2024, offering swimmers of various skill levels an unmatched experience of Barbados’ pristine waters, from three locations – Carlisle Bay, Miami Beach, and Batts Rock.

The BOWF has grown tremendously since it was first held in 2013 and featured only 1.5K and 5K races over the course of one day. This year’s five-day festival invites both locals and visitors from around the globe to participate in three days of 2K practice swims and two days of exhilarating open water races in the 1.5K, 3.3K, 5K, and 10K distance categories.

In addition to experienced swimmers, the event also caters to novices with a 1.5K Just For Fun Swim, scheduled for first-time swimmers and those simply looking for non-competitive enjoyment.

BOWF Event Organiser, Zary Evelyn, stated: “This year’s event, our 10th edition of the festival, promises to be the biggest one yet, as we are expecting swimmers from over 20 countries.”

He added, “We have Steph Horner, a three-time Olympian from Canada among the host of elite visitors this year, along with 15 members of the Junior Canadian National Team.”

A major highlight of the 2024 BOWF will be the festive beach party atmosphere, featuring live steel pan music, along with professional timing by BFIT group, a unique redesign of commemorative finisher medals, and the provision of winner medals in multiple age categories.

Visitors attending the BOWF typically stay between seven and 14 days, significantly impacting the local economy during the first two weeks of November, based on the resultant revenue generation through hotel bookings, restaurant patronage, and transportation services.

Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) Manager, Sports, Kamal Springer, noted: “Given the Barbados Open Water Festival’s positive impact on our island’s sports tourism, BTMI is happy to continue our partnership with this event. It is undoubtedly a welcome opportunity to spotlight Barbados’ amazing coastal assets to the world.

“Carlisle Bay, for example, is one of the world’s best natural open water swim locations. The potential for the continued growth of the festival is quite high, based on the appeal of our beautiful waters and beaches to an increasing number of travellers, in pursuit of an active holiday.”

With the increasing popularity of BOWF, the event has become an important staple on the island’s calendar, which assists in the promotion of Barbados as a premier Sports Tourism destination. From 2020 to 2022, the BOWF was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, when the competition reopened in 2023, the festival attracted 845 swimmers, experiencing a 20 per cent growth over 2019 pre-COVID figures. Of that total, 496 were visiting swimmers, accompanied by their friends and families from 18 countries. For this year’s BOWF, a similar 20 per cent growth is expected.

Over the life of the event, BOWF has welcomed swimmers of all ages and abilities from over 35 countries, including as far afield as Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and South Africa. Several seasoned open water swimming athletes have also participated in the festival, from Olympians, World Champions, Masters Champions, and Marathon Swimmers to National Champions and Pro-triathletes.

The event received a World Award nomination in 2017 and was listed as “The Holiday Swim” to attend in the most recent issue of the Outdoor Swimmer Magazine, published in the United Kingdom. (PR/GIS)

Sports

SPOONER NOMINATED FOR CANCO SPORT AWARD

Article by David Harris

Former media and communications manager of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Philip Spooner is the sole cricket nominee for the inaugural Caribbean Association of National Committees (CANOC) Sports Awards.

He has been nominated in the Caribbean Distinguished Service which acknowledge persons for their dedication to sports in the Caribbean.

Spooner, a Barbadian worked with CWI for 16 years before leaving the organisation in January, he served as the global media manager for International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup which was jointly hosted by the West Indies and the United States in June; and also led the global trophy tour and ambassador programme with Sir Vivian Richards, Usain Bolt, and Chris Gayle.

Before joining CWI, Spooner was the sports editor of newspapers in Barbados and Bermuda.
The CANOC Awards which take place on October 19 in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, will honor the Caribbean best athletes, teams and sports leaders.