BRIDGETOWN—The Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival, an international tournament for semi-professional and retired players, will be held in the Caribbean in 2017.
Barbados has won the rights to host the festival which will run from May 6-13 in Bridgetown.
Cricket legends, Sir Garfield Sobers and Joel Garner, have joined a delegation to promote the tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, at this year’s edition of the festival.
“What is particularly interesting about having the 2017 Golden Oldies Cricket Festival is that it takes place during the month of May, which allows us to increase arrivals during a traditionally slower month,” said Alvin Jemmott, chairman of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI).
“No less than five hotels are expected to benefit from this event. In addition, our support services—restaurants, attractions, car rentals, nightlife facilities, etc—are expected to gain additional business as the games are structured as a festival allowing participants to adequately enjoy the host country.”
About 600 visitors are expected in Barbados for the festival, a brainchild of cricket enthusiast Peter McDermott.
The Golden Oldies Festival, which has been held in destinations such as Adelaide, Birmingham, Brisbane, Auckland and Sydney is not limited to cricket but also has editions catering to rugby, golf, hockey and netball. (CMC)