Jamaica to host Americas Netball World Cup qualifiers
Published:Wednesday | November 3, 2021 | 12:09 AM
JAMAICA IS scheduled to host the Americas Netball World Cup qualifiers in October 2022.
The championship, which was last held in Jamaica in 1990, will qualify two teams to the Netball World Cup that will be held in South Africa in 2023.
Marva Bernard, president of Americas Netball, formerly named Americas Federation of Netball Associations, said Jamaica has hosted a number of international sporting events in the past and, therefore, she is expecting a very successful staging of the tournament here.
“It is a huge opportunity for Jamaica to host this tournament. The last time it was held here was in 1990 and so it has been long overdue,” said Bernard.
“Although the country is already qualified for the Netball World Cup, giving the other Caribbean countries an opportunity to play in front of a large audience in Jamaica is going to be very good for the game,” she continued.
“Jamaica hosted the Netball World Cup in 2002 and they know how to do big events, and so it will be very good for the tournament to come back here so that people can come in the stands and watch the games,” said Bernard, a former president of Netball Jamaica (NJ).
She stated that 10 countries have so far confirmed their participation, but she is hoping that more nations will be added to list by the end of this year.
Tricia Robinson, president of NJ, said Jamaica is delighted to be hosting a tournament like this because it will help to bring a lot of excitement to the sport locally.
“It is always good to have international tournaments on home soil, and hosting this championships is certainly a privilege for us,” said Robinson.
“We haven’t had the region here in a very long time and we are certainly looking forward to hosting them,” she said.
Robinson noted her organisation will be working assiduously to ensure that the championship is safe and successful.
“Failure is not an option and, therefore, it will be successful because we will working to make the the tournament very safe for all attending the games,” she said.