JAMAICA TO HOST FULL BORE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIP

KINGSTON – Host country Jamaica will compete against top shooters from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Canada, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago in the 2022 edition of the West Indies Full Bore Shooting Council Championship. 

The six country Championship will feature shooters aiming at targets from a minimum of 300 to a maximum of a 1000 yards. 

Guyanese Lennox Braithwaite,  Wogarth Cup champion, will be back to defend his title. He was the shooter with the highest score in the short range team match. 

The Championship will feature individual and group competitions. Trinidad & Tobago is the defending champion for the team title. 

The October 24 – 29 event will take place at the Twickenham Park range in St Catherine. 

The Local Organising Committee is headed by Jamaica Rifle Association Vice President, Karen Anderson. She has a small team working with. 

-ENDS-

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Sport Psychologist and Marketer publish book on Caribbean Sport

• ABCs of Caribbean Sport: Marketing and Psychology

KINGSTON, Jamaica – “Sport deserves every bit of attention it can get on and off the field. Athletes need to be prepared for the mind games too,” that is the advice shared by Carole Beckford and Dr Olivia Rose Esperance in their latest collaboration.

The collaboration is shared in a book, ABCs of Caribbean Sport, Marketing and Psychology out now on sale for J$3,000. The book will be available on Amazon soon.

The 140-page publication dives deep into an industry in the Caribbean which has worked and can continue to work if the talent converts to economic activity (marketing); and how athletes and their teams can maximize earnings while being engaged in a process that takes you from any adversity to a winning attitude, via a positive mindset (psychology).

The project began when the two worked together for the 2018 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which was held in Guyana, St Lucia and the final in Antigua. Rose was the sport psychologist assigned to the Windies Women, while Beckford was head of marketing and communications for Cricket West Indies. Both are on their third publication.

Rose Esperance describes her contribution as “the timing is impeccable, as during the pandemic, sport is a means of escape and sport people can and should use this opportunity to be managed while building on their competitive portfolio. The two areas of sport are of great significance and written by Caribbean authors. I am proud of this project.”

Beckford believes “it is important to continue to share information about an industry that has contributed so much to the exposure of the region’s best in the global sporting world. The pool of sporting officials has not only grown in numbers, but in quality. There is so much more to earn from the business of sport.”

Both are supporters of student-athletes and their continued pursuit of excellence. “While the athletes continue to excel, management can do some more to create better synergies for business,” noted Rose Esperance.

The book will sell for J$3,000 and US$20. Patrons may support by ordering on Facebook at (1) ABCs of Caribbean Sport – Marketing and Psychology | Facebook

-ENDS-

Face to Face and Online for Reggae Sunsplash 2021

Kingston, Jamaica– Reggae Sunsplash will return in November 2021.  The event which returned following a 14-year absence is due for Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27 at the Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in St Ann. 

Following its successful return to the Entertainment Calendar in 2020, Reggae Sunsplash has some wonderful ideas for the 2021 renewal.

The iconic Reggae Festival that was staged virtually as a result of the worldwide Covid 19 Pandemic, pulled in viewership well over 300,000 from 25 countries after a 14-year hiatus.

This year, the promoters of the festival aim to not only meet but exceed the digital achievements through a 360-degree hybrid entertainment model.

This hybrid model will see an expansion of viewing party experience following in the 2020 model. This will include restaurants, sports bars and hotels.

Festival Producer Randy Mattis stated that “We are very happy with the response to last year’s staging and we want to push the potential of the festival this year. The entertainment package is critical, and we are working with our booking agent, Aaron Spence at Kaboom Agency to secure the acts for 2021.”

Tyrone Wilson – Executive Producer; Aaron Kaboom Spence – Booking Agent; Randy Mattis – Producer – Reggae Sunsplash 2020

Mattis added that “the line-up will be attractive to a wide cross-section of fans and we aim to deliver the best of available artistes.

The plan is to build on the existing model by adding more viewing locations globally while exploring the possibility of a physical experience of the festival for a limited number of patrons over the age of 18 enjoying an exclusive experience at the 100-acre property.

Executive producer Tyrone Wilson added that “The prevalence of COVID-19 requires that we innovate and reintroduce the Reggae Sunsplash brand in a more engaging, interactive and far-reaching way. With the support of our partners and sponsors, it is our vision to leverage Reggae Sunsplash to transform our cultural entertainment sector generating major returns to our economy.”

The 2021 staging of the festival is scheduled for the month of November with two nights of performances and curated content experiences with a number of artistes set to grace the stage.

In celebration of Reggae Sunsplash’s rich legacy, the festival will merge performances from industry veterans and today’s reggae and dancehall heavy hitters.

For more information contact Reggae Sunsplash at info@reggaesunsplash.com

BOOK ALERT: ABCs of Caribbean Sport, Marketing and Psychology

KINGSTON, Jamaica – “Sport deserves every bit of attention it can get on and off the field. Athletes need to be prepared for the mind games too,” that is the advice shared by Carole Beckford and Dr Olivia Rose Esperance in their latest collaboration.

The collaboration is shared in a book, ABCs of Caribbean Sport, Marketing and Psychology which is due out on shelves end of March.

The 140-page publication dives deep into an industry in the Caribbean which has worked and can continue to work if the talent converts to economic activity (marketing); and how athletes and their teams can maximize earnings while being engaged in a process that takes you from any adversity to a winning attitude, via a positive mindset (psychology).

The project began when the two worked together for the 2018 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup which was held in Guyana, St Lucia and the final in Antigua. Rose was the sport psychologist assigned to the Windies Women, while Beckford was head of marketing and communications for Cricket West Indies. Both are on their third publication.

Rose Esperance describes her contribution as “the timing is impeccable, as during the pandemic, sport is a means of escape and sport people can and should use this opportunity to be managed while building on their competitive portfolio. The two areas of sport are of great significance and written by Caribbean authors. I am proud of this project.”

Beckford believes “it is important to continue to share information about an industry that has contributed so much to the exposure of the region’s best in the global sporting world. The pool of sporting officials has not only grown in numbers, but in quality. There is so much more to earn from the business of sport.”

Both are supporters of student-athletes and their continued pursuit of excellence. “While the athletes continue to excel, management can do some more to create better synergies for business,” noted Rose Esperance.

The book will sell for J$3,000 and US$20. Locations will be known soon!

Patrons may support by ordering on Facebook at (1) ABCs of Caribbean Sport – Marketing and Psychology | Facebook

A virtual launch is scheduled for Wednesday, March 31.

Caribbean Sport Industry has massive potential

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The value of the sport industry globally is estimated at US $488.5 billion. The breakdown per region globally is also estimated to look like

• Europe, Middle East & Africa      48 per cent
• North America                           38 per cent
• Asia and the Pacific                    13 per cent
• Caribbean and Latin America    6 per cent

This odd number makes it up to 105 per cent (for the Math experts), but this is what I will be using as my guide for this conversation.

We want to look at the Caribbean Sport Industry, one which, over the years, has made a considerable impact on the field of play, but has not in any way scratched the surface of its potential of its economic earnings.

The key success factors for sport as an economic driver, looks at

• Events
  • Tickets
  • Media Rights
  • Sponsorship
• Apparel and Equipment
• Fitness and Training
• Venues, Food & Beverage, Betting

In the region, cricket has been the most consistent to fulfill any of the above economic activities listed above. With 10 international cricket venues across the region, Cricket West Indies (formerly West Indies Cricket Board) has hosted other cricketing nations across the region.

TV Rights are considerable for incoming tours from India, Australia and England for the most part. While the revised Super50 and 4-day Championship have been able to attract a sizeable amount. With the standard expenses of CWI estimated to be about $45million annually, the rights deals use that as a base to negotiate from. The figures have really never been made public, but we guess the incoming India tours attract the highest amount. Ticketing and Sponsorship are next in line and then a gear deal.

The region has an impressive list of elite athletes in several sporting disciplines. These range from cricket, track & field, netball, basketball, swimming, volleyball, football among others. The brands in the region should be prepared to invest.

The world recognizes our athletes and we should too. There are a host of products and services that can be aligned with the overall performances (on and off the field). Agents and Managers should collaborate to seek the support as they package our athletes who represent the region consistently.

Two important calls

1. Sport Ministers should meet before the end of the first quarter 2021 and devise a policy plan to upgrade its policy guidelines, while seeking to look at overall preparation for International competitions in Football, Netball, Tack and Field, Cricket and the other major sporting events for the next four years
2. I am challenging the agents and managers based in the Caribbean to assemble and discuss the packaging methodologies for the current elite athletes and teams, while looking at the athletes they are preparing for the future

Well maybe three, I am calling out to the major Caribbean Brands to have their marketing teams re-consider investment opportunities for elite teams and athletes.

On another matter

A 2018 Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report says the Latin America and the Caribbean lags in sport spending. The report stated that “the region could get a development boost from sport activities that improve the region’s social and health benefits.” The report also warned that the programs must be “properly designed and monitored.’

The report also showed that the region needs to spend more on sport, “not just to produce better athletes, but also to foster happier, less violent and healthier societies. To gain the social benefits, there is need for better sport programs and evaluate those that already exist.”

The full report is available here https://www.iadb.org/en/news/idb-report-underscores-social-benefits-sports-development-warns-against-program-design-flaws

Sport Fans – What are we missing?

KINGSTON – Sport fans globally have been lamenting the absence of live sport that they can watch on screens or even attend considering we are all being affected by this covid19 pandemic.

What is true though, this is one of the toughest periods sport fans have gone through in the last twenty years.

• We were 65 matches in the NBA season.
• The English Premier League (EPL) did not go beyond the March 14 date.
  • (Liverpool – two matches away from being declared winner)
• UEFA has suspended and pushed back dates of all its leagues
  • February 19 a match was held in Milan – Atalanta vs Valencia
• MLB was in the pre-season. March 26 was supposed to be opening day.
  • The Nationals are the defending champions  
• NFL was doing combines and getting ready for draft (April 23 – 25) this will be virtual
• ESPN will show The Last Dance – the Michael Jordan series
  • Originally set for June and will be brought forward to Sunday, April 19
• WNBA draft is coming up in May and could be virtual

The Summer Olympics was scheduled for July 24 to August 9 and sport fans were all lining up.

On the track and field calendar, the World Indoor Track and Field, Nanjing was the first event to be postponed from the IAAF calendar and all the other Diamond League events, World Continental Tour (which includes the Racers Grand Prix event in Jamaica) are all being affected.

We are looking at hundreds of hours of TV/Sport content, live and delayed that, we, as sport fans are all missing.

What about the athletes?

With five sporting disciplines (Baseball/Softball, Karate, Skateboarding, Sport climbing and Surfing) to be added to the existing 28, apart from the athletes who were gearing up for the 33 sporting disciplines in this year’s planned Summer Olympics, all the other leagues and competitions listed above would see a significant percentage of the world’s best athletes on show.

The major brands, Nike, Adidas, Puma, Reebok, Under Armour would be in the world’s eyes. Some of us would be ordering stuff online and even when we attend some of the meets, we would acquire the latest merchandise that is available.

The athletes would wear the latest set of gear that has been made and we consumers would grab this up at every chance we get.

Opportunity for athletes during COVID

• Stay safe and follow the protocols
• Show us snippets of you working out in your branded gear
• Give tips that can be used to inspire the world as you would always do
• Keep all your fans informed; you may even get new fans

No one will or should be able to say when any major sporting event will return to the court, field or track, but one thing is sure, live sport is a thing.

Until then, cherish the memories… of sport!

Stay in the Game!

Jamaica’s Sport Industry

Jamaica’s sport industry will be hit hard with the advent of the corona virus pandemic.

The first blow came when the Inter Secondary Schools Sport Association (ISSA) was forced to cancel the 2020 edition of the Boys and Girls Championship. The event which was scheduled for March 24 – 28 was called off on Wednesday, March 11 by a team comprising the Ministry of Health and Wellness, ISSA and the lead sponsor partner, Grace Kennedy.

ISSA was quick out the blocks in estimating that at least J$150 million would have been lost. That amount would have included not just sponsor contribution, but income from broadcast rights, tickets and concessions.

The annual CHAMPS event is but one of the major calendar events which has been affected. The other sporting disciplines include an incomplete Red Stripe Premier League; Netball Jamaica was just about getting ready to start their national league in all divisions; an international volleyball club championship, scheduled for the weekend before CHAMPS, was also canceled along with several other competitions.

Subsequently, all public sporting and entertainment events have been postponed or cancelled. The only sporting event which managed to keep its foot in the door was horseracing which saw its last event being held on Saturday, March 21.

The effects on the system cannot be quantified just yet, but there are several layers that will be impacted. First off, all the athletes in all sports elite and amateur have been affected. While they are unable to compete, they are now unable to train.

Additionally, service providers, those employed directly and indirectly will all be affected; because with no events being held, there is no revenue being generated and therefore a lot of those in that industry will receive reduced pay packages for a limited time. Those who offer freelance services are on a wait and see game.

Elite Athletes

While the elite (professional athlete) may have a lifeline through the partnership with their sponsor partners, for example gear and beverage companies and other short-term partners. We await feedback from that group.

With every aspect of the industry almost coming to a halt, the fall out will be devastating. There is no timeline for the restart of any leagues now on hold. Some have been postponed indefinitely and some are considering cancellation.

National Sport budget

As a background, the Jamaican system has never been able to record a correct estimate of the contribution of the sport industry to its gross domestic product (GDP); but the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in its annual public, the Economic and Social Survey of Jamaica (ESSJ) suggests that sports (an entertainment) contribute a combined figure of up to 3.5 per cent.

The GDP as reported for the 2019 period is $14.516 billion. The sport figure would therefore be close to $500 million.

When the Government presented its 2019/2020 budget for $803 billion the allocation for sport was $4.119 billion; a figure that has shown steady increase over the years. Certainly, in the last decade the country has participated in two Summer Olympic Games – 2012, 2016 and was about to go to its third in 2020, now postponed to 2021.

The global impact is severe and already we are seeing fallouts from all the major leagues in every sport. All have had an impact on its salaries for its professional players, full and part time staff.

We now have to live through the memories of sport, games we all love so much.

#StayInTheGame

Rebel Salute 2020 – Come for the show, stay for the experience

When the band strikes the first note on Friday, January 17, it would signal the 27th staging of Rebel Salute. The festival which was first a one night event, has now turned into a massive two-day festival catering to a wide and diverse audience globally.

This year’s renewal will feature the experience of a lifetime with great music from Reggae Artistes. Patrick Barrett, aka, Tony Rebel, host of the event, along with his team, says “this year’s line up for both evening will showcase over 700 hits across the talent that will be on show. That is quite a remarkable feat.”

What is happening now, 9 days before the start of the show is the full suite of artistes rehearsing at studio locations across Kingston. This is where the artistes and their teams come to perfect their performances. They appear with back up singers, band members and even some of the managers stop by.

Chevaughn who is on the Friday line up, had a session https://twitter.com/CaroleBeckford/status/1214956823545044992?s=20

While Errol Dunkley of Black Cinderella fame, gave a shout out to the fans to join him on Saturday, January 18 https://twitter.com/CaroleBeckford/status/1214971011063590913?s=20

The stage manager is there on location and provides support to the crews that come in and ensures that the times allocated are adhered to.

The show welcomes 49 per cent of the total audience from overseas and this, according to Tony Rebel, “indicates that the show is a fitting product for music lovers at home and abroad.”

The Grammy-nominated Reggae Album Group, Steel Pulse will be on stage on Friday along with Toots and the Maytals, Sanchez, Chi Chi Ching, Kenyatta Hill – to name a few; while on Saturday, Moses Davis (Beenie Man), Jessie Royal, Tony Tuff, Chronnic Law and Benjy Myaz are among the stars to be on the show.

There is comedy with Johnny and Friends on Friday. While on Saturday a dub plate show case featuring Jack Scorpio (Jamaica) and DynamQ Sound (South Sudan) will be a highlight on Saturday.

The village will present an eclectic presentation of art and craft and the now popular herb curb, with Dr Julius Garvey as a special guest.

Tickets are available at https://secure.ticketpal.com/affiliate/rebelsalutewebsite

The two-day show, held at the Grizzlys Plantation Cove, Priory, St Ann is one you won’t want to miss. Gates open at 5pm and show starts promptly at 7pm.

Come for the music, stay for the experience – after all, it is the Peoples Show.

See you there

Create | Protect | Earn with IPMG

KINGSTON, Jamaica -” A forum that outlines how to commercialize your creative and cultural assets through a carefully crafted programme is one that is truly needed,” this according to O’Neil Walters, CEO of the newly formed Intellectual Property Mining Group (IPMG). 

That forum will be available come Wednesday, November 13. The event will focus on three key areas of research, marketing and how to value your brand, under the theme ‘Create. Protect. Earn.’

Presentations will be made by IP Research Specialist – Dean McKellar; Media/Marketing Specialist, O’Neil Walters and Marketing Specialist, Carole Beckford – all of whom will share in a case study style their experiences on how they have successfully managed and delivered winning projects throughout their careers while also showcasing influential current global trends.

The Forum will target creative industry practitioners inclusive of officials in businesses that have among their portfolio, sponsorship, marketing, public relations and communications around segments of the Orange Economy. 

Walters wants the forum to seek to strengthen the capacity but also deepen the relationships with persons who manage lifestyle personality brands/organizations in key areas of sport, music and entertainment. 

IPMG Team

Among the highlights of the event will be a CEO Vision Lounge which will feature leaders of corporate organizations who have had the experience and those who seek to know how “the present landscape will shape how they integrate the creative elements of Jamaica into their Corporate campaigns.” 

The event will run from 3:00 to 6:00 pm and will include a business executives’ lyme (networking session) with one of IPMG’s clients, DJ Kurt Riley, who will provide entertainment. It is an all- inclusive event for just $10,000. We invite all to register interest and get listed at info@ignitionipmg.com 

DJ Kurt Riley

What of Jamaica Sport?

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Over the next three to five years, Jamaican superstar athletes will be involved in a series of global and international Games and Championships in several disciplines. Football, Cricket, Track and Field, Netball, Basketball, Swimming (diving) and Volleyball are just some of the sport that will see considerable action.

Most, if not all of the events, will take place out of the Caribbean region, which offers an opportunity for the (Brand) Jamaica to strengthen and deepen its roots in the global space.

From as long as 1948, Jamaican athletes have long established themselves as superstars and have continued to do so in traditional and non-traditional areas.

Yona Knight-Wisdom, for example, just finished second in the 3 metres British Diving competition in preparation for upcoming World Championships in South Korea (July) and European Championship in Ukraine (August) all towards aiming for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, scheduled for Japan.

Yona Knight Wisdom

The Reggae Girlz will take the field for the first time at this level on Sunday, June 9 against Brazil, in the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Reggae Boyz are in the Gold Cup as they look to campaign for the 2022 World Cup. There is a long list of football competitions to take place in all age groups on the turf and even in the sand.

Netball heads to Liverpool this summer for what could be a great chance for the Sunshine Girls to climb to number one.

In the last quarter, track and field will dominate with the World Championships and will be the first time since Osaka (2007) that Usain Bolt won’t be competing. We wait to see what that will look, feel and sound like.

That summarizes the outward events. And from all indications, the national federations along with the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) have their work cut out for them.

JAMAICA MUST BENEFIT

What of incoming events though? And how will Jamaica benefit from earnings from the global sport industry? Time for a sport agency of known skill and repute to make this happen. We continue to skirt and dance around with the possibilities.

Time for the upgraded version of Jamaica Sport to return – an agency with skills, resources and the requisite financial backing to coordinate island sport tours, major and targeted sport events with franchises, national and international teams and personalities.

This was written some time ago – Bring back Jamaica Sport https://carolebeckford.wordpress.com/2018/09/15/bring-back-jamaica-sport/

It is time, to #CallTheGame

One Love!