SUN, SAND AND FOOTBALL
Canadian Football League Players Association starts the ‘pre-season’ in Barbados
TORONTO – June 21, 2012 – Twenty-four players representing every team in the Canadian Football League donned their helmets and protective gear in Barbados this past May for the ultimate fantasy camp.
The event, part of an exciting partnership between the Barbados Tourism Authority and the Canadian Football League Players Association, brought together some of the biggest names in Canadian Football, including B.C. Lions’ Quarterback and Grey Cup champion Korey Banks, Hamilton Tiger Cats’ Henry Burris, Montreal Alouettes’ Anthony Cavillo and Etienne Boulay.
While in Barbados, these professional athletes hosted a number of workshops and clinics where they instructed young Barbadian schoolboys about the basic rules of the game and donated equipment to several schools in support of the development of football on the schools’ curriculum.
Prior to the football workshops, a nationwide online contest to find the biggest CFL fans in Canada took place and sixteen lucky fans qualified and travelled to the Turtle Beach Resort from May 2-6 for four days of football drills, sun and competition with their Canadian football heroes.
While football was the main reason for the camp, it certainly wasn’t the only item on the camp itinerary. An East versus West showdown on Turtle Beach in tug-of-war and dodge-the-ball competitions; a ‘Best-Ball’ golf tournament at the Barbados Golf Club and “Hockey Night in Barbados” at Bert’s Bar completed the week’s activities. Fierce competition erupted at the Barbados Defence Force training grounds when fans and players and fans went head-to-head on the obstacle course.
The CFL players’ fantasy camp created an island-wide buzz which set the stage for the second annual Barbados British Airways Football Legends Invitational. This event brought former European football legends to the island for an all-star tournament at Kensington Oval in Barbados from May 26-27, 2012. It welcomed eight English six-a-side teams including Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and a Professional Footballers’ Association all-star team confirming, that Barbados is indeed a world class sports destination.
About Barbados
The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes, including The Crane Beach, St. Philip, voted on of the world’s sexiest beaches for 2008 by Concierge.com. Regarded by many as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, Barbados is home to numerous internationally renowned chefs who masterfully put signature spins on local delicacies and traditions. Barbados is also an ideal stage for world-class events and has hosted numerous athletic championships, including the ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2007 and the 2006 PGA World Golf Championship-The Barbados World Cup. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation house and villas to quaint bed and breakfasts to award-winning five-star resorts. The newly renovated Grantley Adams International Airport offers non-stop and direct service from Toronto daily on Air Canada, 9 times weekly in the winter and 2 flights weekly out of Montreal. WestJet commenced service November 2, 2009 with 5 flights weekly via Toronto. Barbados was voted #8 in the World by Trip Advisor’s ‘2008 Travelers Choice Destination Awards’ in its Top 100 Destinations category. Follow the Barbados beat and catch up on the latest news via the Barbados Facebook page at www.tinyurl.com/VisitBarbados<http://www.tinyurl.com/VisitBarbados> and Twitter at www.twitter.com/Barbados<http://www.twitter.com/Barbados>. For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org<http://www.visitbarbados.org> or Call 1-800-268-9122.