Jamaica Cricket 'Festival of Stars' set for December
While there is a significant amount of good practice around, some governing bodies would gain much from stronger administrative and professional support.

As part of its legacy strategy, the Jamaica Cricket Association's (JCA) has collaborated with tourism interests, corporate Jamaica and international sporting bodies and clubs to continue the investment and expansion of sports tourism in Jamaica.

Contributed - (From left) Club chairman of the Lashings World XI Cricket Club, David Folb, has the attention of Half Moon's managing director, Richard Whitfield, former West Indies cricketer and Lashings legend, Jimmy Adams and regional sales manager at Red Stripe, Keith Allen. The occasion was the launch of the Jamaica Cricket Association's Cricket Festival of Stars 2006.

With cricket, golf and entertainment providing a good combination with some of the world's finest cricketers from the United Kingdom, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and, of course, the West Indies, the association will stage the inaugural Jamaica Cricket Festival of Stars 2006 scheduled for December 1-4, under the theme 'Live the Passion, Feel the Excitement, and Salute the Stars'.

The JCA has formed alliances with organisations including the Lashings World XI - the U.K.-based Cricket Club of international cricket legends, the four diamond, five star resort - Half Moon, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, the national carrier, Air Jamaica, Jamaica Tourist Board, Jamaica Tours, Red Stripe the great Jamaican Beer and Pepsi Jamaica.

According to first vice-president of the Jamaica Cricket Association, Paul Campbell, the JCA Lashings partnership will create far-reaching opportunities for Jamaica to attract increased visitors to the island on a yearly basis travelling for international cricket and sports tournaments.

far-reaching opportunities

"Jamaica has over the years enjoyed full occupancies in the hotels in Kingston during international cricket series staged in Jamaica. However, an aggressive marketing programme has never been designed to grow the business and garner our share of the multimillion-dollar industry. As the main proponent of cricket development and part of the JCA's legacy strategy is to maximise the opportunities from the US$80,000 investment in the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium Facility and Sabina stadium by partnering with Lashings and other overseas sporting entities to stage annual events."

The four-day festival includes; a banquet on December 1, a Celebrity Golf Tournament and Beach Cricket Competition on December 2, a 40-over cricket match on December 3 and culminate with coaching sessions for youngsters with the Lashings World XI versus an All Schools Youth Team in a 20/20 cricket game on December 4.