NJ eyes hosting 2035 World Cup

President of Netball Jamaica (NJ) Karen Rosen-Baugh says the association has aspirations of hosting the Netball World Cup in Jamaica in 2035.

Rosen-Baugh made the disclosure yesterday after Jamaica’s great rivals, England, were awarded the rights to host the 2031 showpiece.

Jamaica’s first and only hosting of the Netball World Cup came in 2003, when the tournament was staged at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.

The Sunshine Girls secured the bronze medal at that tournament.

High ideal

“It is just another thing to work towards, and, hopefully by the next cycle ,Jamaica can probably put in a bid for another World Cup. That is the high ideal that we have, but that is to be seen based on our commercial outreach. It is definitely something that we would aspire to,” Rosen-Baugh said.

“We have shown that we can do it because with just one main facility, we have shown that we can host, but it does present some challenges. You have to put two courts inside, so it does require some private sector, public sector partnership. It did happen that time to be able to put on a World Cup, and things have changed a lot since 2003, but we still only have that one facility,” she explained.

“So it would need a very intense effort and partnership for that, but I think it is something that we can do, and it is something that we aspire to host another World Cup in this region and in Jamaica,” she said.

Another facility

Former Netball Jamaica president Marva Bernard pointed to financial spinoffs from the Netball World Cup, and noted that Jamaica would need another venue to host the sport’s premier championship.

She said participating countries share financial profits from the World Cup, which could benefit Jamaica and other Caribbean teams by reducing the burden of long-distance travel.

“As for Jamaica hosting these prestigious tournaments again, we would need a facility. The National Indoor Sports Centre just cannot hold the crowds that come to World Cups,” she said.

“We would need a facility even before we think of sponsorship, and I know that corporate Jamaica loves these big events and Jamaica is known for hosting successful events, but we don’t have the venue, and so not having the venue would be a deterrent.”

Bernard underscored that any investment in a new facility should also take into consideration its use beyond the World Cup.

“The Government would have to promise a venue, and I always like to think about beyond the event because beyond the event it could be a white elephant if we don’t utilise the facility more. And what about Montego Bay, the other side of the island? So I think it would be great for tourism if it was held in Jamaica again,” she said.