Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) recently announced that 2017 has been dubbed the “Year of Sports 2017” for the island’s tourism sector.
This designation is one of the pillars of the BTMI’s comprehensive three-year sports tourism plan.
In keeping with current tourism trends, and a growing traveler appetite for adventure and activity, the BTMI has identified key events aimed at capitalizing on available infrastructure and resources to generate additional business for Barbados.
The Year of Sports 2017 will include a blend of established calendar favorites and new events, covering interests from water sports to cricket and beach tennis.
According to the BTMI, the new events alone are projected to welcome more than 2,000 additional visitors to the island.
Here is a breakdown of the most notable sports events to be held in Barbados this year:
OK Dinghy World Championships (May 25-31) & Finn World Masters Championship (June 3-9)
The OK Dinghy International Association (OKDIA) is the world organization for the OK-Dinghy class.
OK Class Worlds travels to various destinations around the world each year and it is expected that this event will attract at least 100 of the world's best sailors to compete against each other.
The 2017 World Championships in Barbados will be the class’s 55th championship, and the class will also be celebrating the boat’s 60th anniversary.
Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival (May 7-14)
Following a successful bid in 2014, Barbados was announced as the host venue for the 2017 edition of the Golden Oldies World Cricket Festival. Held every two years, the competition is geared towards those over the age of 35 from around the world, who love the game of cricket.
Barbados Pro World Surf League 3000 QS (April 16-21)
The World Surf League qualifying world tour is a combination of events which take place at various locations around the world to pick the top finisher to join the elite Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour. The 3,000 events are amongst some of the highest rated qualifying events throughout the year.
The Barbados Beach Tennis Open (June 26-July 2)
This invitational beach tennis tournament capitalizes on what is essentially a relatively new sport that is growing rapidly in the European and South American regions, namely Brazil. Beach tennis combines physical elements of tennis and beach volleyball with a fun, party atmosphere.
Dragon World Championships 2017 (October 28-30)
The popularity of Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Boarding continues to rise. Utilizing inflatable SUPs developed by the Red Paddle Co., this event will be the first of its kind to be staged in the region.
The Dragon World Series will see teams from around the world competing to have the chance to take part in the first dedicated team World Championships in Barbados and be crowned the first Dragon World Champions.
The Barbados Beach Wellness Festival (September 2-3)
Global trends continue to show an increased level of participation in health and wellness activities. Travel for health and wellness as the primary motivation is also on the increase.
In response to these trends, Barbados will be hosting a wellness festival over a two-day period this September. The festival will include yoga sessions from beginner to expert level, including SUP yoga, Thai yoga bodywork, tai chi and capoeira. There will also be beach activities such as workout sessions and water sports, and nature lovers can partake in biking, horseback riding and hiking tours.
The Barbados Festival of Cycling (September 9-10)
Geared towards cycling enthusiasts, this event will have a mix of road cycling activities culminating in a Round the Island Sportive entitled the Barbados 360, and Mountain Bike (MTB) trail rides culminating with a MTB race event.
The road cycling event will comprise four days of cycling to various locations, an event village, and two courses to choose from – the Barbados 360 Gold (a roughly 70-mile route) and the Barbados 360 Silver (a nearly 40-mile route).
Barbados Open Club Championship (October)
The Sir Garfield Sobers International Golf Tournament is the largest international golfing tournament on the island to date.
However, the event remains largely at peak capacity and as such the potential for growth is restricted. The Barbados Open Club Championship answers the call to further develop Barbados’ golf offerings, targeting clubs across key market jurisdictions.
To qualify, competitions will take place at various clubs within the respective jurisdictions with the eventual winners being invited to Barbados to compete for top honors in the Barbados Open Club Championships. The competition will be open to amateurs and club professionals, both male and female.
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