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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
LOC, visiting FIFA officials and the BFA
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NASSAU, New Providence – The phrase “sun, sand and sea” will take on a whole new meaning in summer 2017 when the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup comes to town.
The Bahamas is set to host its largest international sporting event on beautiful white sand beaches against the backdrop of the magnificent turquoise ocean.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr. Daniel Johnson officially launched the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup campaign during an intimate ceremony at the Balmoral Club on Tuesday, November 24.
“We welcome you officially to the best place in the world for Beach Soccer! FIFA made the right decision. If you are looking to combine beaches, football, music, art and entertainment then you’ve come to the right place,” he said.
It will be the first time in history that a Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) senior event will be held in the Caribbean region.
“We had more than 10 countries bidding for this World Cup so it was not an easy choice, but everyone felt that The Bahamas was a perfect fit. We also have a lot of faith in Anton Sealy [Bahamas Football Association President],” said Jaime Yarza, Head of FIFA Events.
FIFA Beach Soccer Committee member and Vice President of Beach Soccer Worldwide Joan Cusco was also in The Bahamas for the event.
“Our sport has a huge association with tourism. We like to go places where we can promote both soccer and tourism. We want to maximize this event to promote tourism, music, culture, and social responsibility. We think that all of these things are important to this country,” Cusco added.
The Ministry of Tourism is a major sponsor of the upcoming World Cup. The 16-team event is expected to attract hundreds ofvisitors from all over the world.
President of the Bahamas Football Association Anton Sealy said the event will significantly boost the economy.
“Each team travels with a minimum contingent of 25 persons and they’re here for a period of 21 days, so just think about the number of room nights. The Local Organizing Committee will have to engage vendors for the event, we will need transportation back and forth so there’s so much spinoff from this,” Sealy said.
LOC members include Lionel Haven (co-chair), Jeffrey Beckles (co-chair), Frederick Lunn, Tanya Carey, Eugene Poitier, Nikia Deveaux, Saskia D'Aguilar, Simon Townsend, David Vandyke and Chrissy Hennesy.
The LOC is working assiduously behind the scenes to ensure that The Bahamas is ready to host the mega-sporting event.
© Copyright 2015 by thebahamasweekly.com
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