The Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport is to provide support worth $12 million to assist Netball Jamaica in hosting the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifier for the 2023 Netball World Cup.

Olivia Grange, minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, made the announcement during yesterday’s (May 19) launch of the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifier for which she has also accepted Netball Jamaica’s invitation to be the official patron

“The ministry and its agencies are providing $1.8 million to Netball Jamaica for team preparation; $2.5 million for transportation and will be covering the cost of rental of the National Indoor Sports Centre where the qualifier will take place from October 16 to 21, 2022,” Grange said.

Ten teams will be playing in the qualifier for the two remaining places that would see them competing in the World Cup.

Jamaica is already qualified by virtue of its #4 world ranking.

“I am proud, all of Jamaica is proud of this first for Netball Jamaica; playing host for the staging of a Netball World Cup qualifier,” Grange said.

“History will also be made when the next Netball World Cup, the 16th edition, takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa, since it will be the first time that the tournament will be held on the African continent. South Africa has gained a reputation for the staging of world-class events so we can expect something extra special when they host the Netball World Cup.”

The minister added: “The upcoming qualifier will certainly serve to project Netball Jamaica afresh to the nation.

“I am deeply moved that Netball Jamaica would see fit to honour me by asking me to be patron for the Americas Netball World Cup Qualifier.

“So who is a patron and what is the duty of a patron? A patron is a distinguished person who gives financial or other support to a person, organisation, or cause. The most effective patron will have a passion for what the person or organisation does. Need I say more?

“Netball Jamaica will tell you that I have challenged them to reimagine how they see themselves. Their value is great and we need corporate Jamaica to come on board in a greater way to support them.

“I would love to see partners coming onboard to provide bus, sport gear and all the other services they need because I am sure that our Sunshine girls will give sponsors value for their money.”

Said Grange: “Sport and the opportunity to participate in sport at all levels is a right that we take seriously. Netball is a favourite pastime in Jamaica and one that is practised from the primary school levels in Jamaica. We know that through the work of the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) we have netball competitions at the primary level. There is also competition at the high school and tertiary levels.

“We want to see the sport grow in Jamaica and continue to give our girls and yes, boys too, the avenue and outlet to express themselves and dare to dream to play at higher levels.

“We anticipate that on the final day of the Netball World Cup on August 6, 2023, when Jamaica celebrates its 61 st Anniversary of Independence, our Sunshine Girls will be one of the two teams competing for the title and that they will be the new champions of world netball.

“Netball and our Sunshine Girls have always made us proud.”