KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Sports Minister Olivia Grange said the government prioritized grassroots funding over investing in next year’s Twenty20 World Cup but said it was “not an easy decision” to pass up on hosting games in the International Cricket Council showpiece.
Jamaica was the notable absence from the list of seven host venues announced by the ICC earlier this week, with the likes of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, all submitting successful bids.
However, Grange said after examining the cost/benefit analysis, the government had decided that investment in local cricket development would have been more beneficial, especially in light of “limited resources,” and would proceed with injecting $100 million (US$648 000) into this area over the next five years.
“In our cost/benefit analysis with stakeholders, we also considered the economic, social, and development impact, including the potential tourism-related impact and attendant industry benefits using year-over-year economic modeling, reconciled against current tourism performance,” Grange said in a release.
“It was not an easy decision, and I understand and share the disappointment of fans who wanted to see T20 World Cup games being played in Jamaica.
“However, I could not just follow my heart. As a responsible Minister, I am obliged to look beyond immediate gratification to sustainable sports development that will yield immeasurable rewards at all levels in Jamaica.”
She continued: “I had to pay attention to the cost/benefit analysis, especially with limited resources. To play our part in, hopefully in the not too distant future, fixing West Indies Cricket, we will prioritize investment in the local game.”
The T20 World Cup is scheduled for June 4-30 and will involve 20 teams for the first time as the ICC moves to expand the tournament. For the first time, the United States will host a leg of the game, with matches carded for Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, and New York.
Cricket West Indies has already said it expects the Caribbean to benefit from the economic spin-offs associated with hosting the tournament, relating to increased employment and enhanced global exposure for the tourism product.
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