SocialTwist Tell-a-Friend Tennis fans to be wowed by Dream Cup 10/6/2013 A breath of fresh air has been breathed into one of the island’s more successful initiatives as the 2013 edition of the Dream Cup is set to serve off late next month. Originally Tennis Pon de Rock, the Dream Cup has been rebranded and refocused, but will still be offering local, regional and international spectators the opportunity to see some of the world’s best players showing off their skills on local shores. Scheduled to see action from November 28 to December 1, the Dream Cup will see the likes of Richard Gasquet, Nicholas Almagro, Juan Martin del Potro and 2013 Wimbledon Champion Andy Murray pulling out all the stops as they play for a first prize of US$500 000 worth of stay at major sponsor, St. Peter’s Bay. Speaking during a media briefing at the luxury accommodations yesterday, Director Kodi Lewis explained that the event had grown even beyond their original expectations in the short space of time of its existence and that it had evolved over time. Noting that the original aim – raising funds for local young players – had not changed, Lewis added that there was now a larger focus on promoting the island. “That is what we are really trying to achieve with promoting Barbados and sports tourism. We want visitors to come and sports visitors usually end up staying longer, spending more and returning to the island. And this is one of the key reasons why we did not want to offer just prize money. We wanted to offer something that would give an incentive to return and bring their families and friends,” he said. With Tennis Pon de Rock having been staged in 2009 and again in 2011, the new Dream Cup will see this new series running two years on the trot as a six-year media partnership has been struck with ESPN, which entails live coverage regionally and internationally for the event. Also speaking to the level of prestige the event holds, is the fact that it is the only event outside of the ATP that has ever received this level of coverage. Lewis went on to say that the aim was to keep the event different to anything that the public was accustomed to. “What we wanted to do with the event is make it a little different to other events. We did not want it to be one where sponsors and partners come onboard and get exposure for three months around the event and then you don’t hear from us until the next year. This event is designed to maximise exposure for our sponsors and Barbados. So we split the men and women, and we will have the top women players next year playing for the same prize,” he stated. This year’s event will see the four players going up against one another in a semi-final round on November 29 with the two winners going forward to the final on November 30. Both days, the action will take place at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium. (MP)
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 08:13:58 +0000
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