Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 05, 2008
Residents have been urged to prepare themselves to tap into the benefits of the growing sports tourism sub-sector in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas gave the encouragement after touring the Bird Rock athletic stadium on Tuesday. The Prime Minister explained that the track and field facility ““ slated as the venue for the 2008 CARIFTA Games ““ and other sporting facilities including the main stadium Warner Park, will play a vital role in the success of the sub-sector.
“This [the staging of the games] is a big step in the development of sports tourism in St. Kitts and Nevis,” said the Prime Minister. “We continue to be engaged in the transformation of our national economy. We continue to move out of sugar “¦ and establish services, especially tourism related services, as the main stay of this new emerging economy. Sports tourism is one of the planks on which the new economy “¦ will be established.”
Over 700 athletes and a host of cheering supporters, proud parents and athletic officials from 26 countries are expected in St. Kitts and Nevis for the March 21 to 24 games. More than one hundred athletes from sporting clubs such as the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of the United Kingdom as well as teams from the United States are also expected this month.
Prime Minister Douglas explained that locals can benefit by maintaining the numerous sporting facilities on island, offering tour-related services or selling craft and fashion designs to the visiting athletes, officials and spectators. He challenged persons to be creative in designing services to cater to the tourists.
The Prime Minister also encouraged residents, particularly young people to support the CARIFTA Games and other sports tourism activities.
“Let our people come out on [March] 19th when we will [officially] open this facility, and again on the 21st to the 24th when St. Kitts and Nevis will come alive to the international athletic community in the hosting of these games,” he said. “Let our young people, our student athletes in particular, come out and witness what we are doing for them in the future and for the generations yet unborn.”
Tickets for the CARIFTA Games will go on sale on March 20. There will be three categories of tickets. A stand or bleachers seat will cost $35.00 (all ages). Admission to the grounds without a seat in the bleachers will cost adults $25.00 while children under the age of 12 will pay $10.00.