As Government readies the country for the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup Final, Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Charles Griffith, is appealing to Barbadians to throw their full support behind the event.

Addressing a media briefing, Minister Griffith, who declared that Barbados was in a ready position to stage the event, indicated that while the Government was meeting its obligations, there is a need for thousands of Barbadians to volunteer their time and resources to make the event an absolute success.

“We are looking to have a major volunteer push in relation to this particular event because the status of it alone requires that we have hundreds if not thousands of volunteers on island coming out to support the Government, in terms of making this a success. We at the Ministry have started the process of putting a volunteer programme in place not only for the World Cup, but for subsequent events that would be happening on the island,” he said, during the briefing held in the boardroom of his Ministry’s Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, St Michael headquarters.

Barbados is expected to host the final of the June 1 to 29 showpiece, as well as eight other games throughout the tournament, three of which are Super 8 (quarterfinals) games. The event is expected to attract thousands of fans and 200 journalists to the island.

The Minister explained that $50 million has been allocated to upgrade Kensington Oval, which has the capacity to accommodate 18,000 people. He said the funds will also be used to facilitate infrastructural work at locations earmarked for practice matches which are the 3W’s Oval, Cave Hill; Police Sports Club at Weymouth; and Windward Cricket Club, Lucas Street, St Philip.

However, he stated that while the Government is pulling its pockets, Barbadians who want to make a contribution to nation building have the opportunity to get involved in the process of helping the country to host the event.

“Now, one of the things that I want to speak about as well is the fact that this is not only the World Cup that is happening in 2024 here. We are looking at legacy in terms of this particular event. The fact that we would have done it on two previous occasions means that we have an idea of what is required to stage that event. 

“And I am making a call because this event is not about the Government, this is about all of us that live on the island. We would have seen a video that recently went viral in terms of the friendliness of our citizens here and I am asking all Barbadians to be involved in the process.

“Whatever you think is necessary to chip in to help make this a success, then the Government is asking you to do such…. We are putting not only the country on show, but we are putting the region on show. And I believe that if all of us come together to make this a reality, then the success would be the same, if not bigger than what transpired in 2007 and 2010,” he said.

Noting that the event would not only evolve around Kensington Oval, where the matches will be played, Mr. Griffith said fans are expected to take in the sights and scenes around the island, providing a perfect opportunity for community tourism to shine.

He suggested that Barbadians could potentially earn money through promoting aspects of their communities and the staging of cultural events.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the National Organising Committee and the Local Organising Committee headed by Ambassador Noel Lynch and Roland Toppin, respectively, for hitting targets as it relates to putting critical measures in place. 

“There is also a legacy component that after this event we would have a facility that is fit for purpose. We are building a profile that Barbados can host international events and do so in a successful way. So, I really want to say thank you to those two committees and everyone who is involved in the process. I think we are ahead of the curb so to speak in relation to the preparation process,” Minister Griffith said.

Meanwhile, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.’s, Sports Manager, Kamal Springer, said over 200 journalists will call Barbados home for the event’s duration. He added that the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC) will be the venue for the media, and is currently undergoing enhancements to meet world-class standards.

The Sports Manager also indicated that the enhancements not only elevate the LESC to accommodate the needs of the global press, but also contribute to boosting Barbados’ reputation as a capable and sophisticated host for international events. (PR/GIS)