ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA TO HOST ISLANDS CUP OPEN 2022
A surge of economic growth for antigua and Barbuda is getting an assist from the islands cup open (isco). as host country for the 2022 isco Play 4 championship tournament, the twin nation is kicking off plans to become a Pancaribbean sports tourism hub.
The decision to designate antigua and Barbuda leaders to host the tournaments is viewed as an extraordinary opportunity to boost the nation’s economy. “small states have learned to network with private enterprises in order to maximize every opportunity to scale developmental goals,” says gaston Browne, prime minister of antigua and Barbuda. “this new relationship with isco will bring mutually beneficial gains for both. We welcome this partnership.”
ISCO Projects Bring Lasting Impact
A number of ISCO’s sports, entertainment, and wellness initiatives are already underway.
A stadium and multiple infrastructure projects are planned to support ongoing tournament events.
“Attracting visitors to my caribbean island-country is a science, and my team has perfected its practice,” says charles “max” Fernandez, minister of tourism of Antigua and Barbuda. “We look forward further collaborations on behalf of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and isco.”
This year’s tournaments will be played at the existing Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, built for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. A new stadium is slated for completion in 2023. this first caribbean football-specific stadium will bring Antigua and Barbuda global attention as a leading sports tourism hub in the region. Branded as the isco stadium, it will have a 20,750seat capacity with 33 field-level suites. Built by isco in partnership with offshore investors, the stadium complex will include 12 international training fields. an adjacent 5-star hotel and a players’ rehabilitation center are also planned.
“Attracting visitors to my Caribbean island-country is a science, and my team has perfected its practice.
“- Charles “Max” Fernandez, Minister of tourism of Antigua and Barbuda
Fernandez states that his ministry “fully endorses the construction of a footballspecific stadium and other real estate acquisition and development projects, which will benefit the Antiguan and Barbudan people and the economy as a whole.” Further endorsement for the partnership has come from Daryll matthew, minister of education, sports and creative Arts.
“Kick Poverty Out”
“isco offers the great game of football and entertainment as a vehicle to boost the economy and kick out poverty,” says Paul mohamed, ceo and commissioner of isco. “We will do this by fusing football with entertainment for all live games, providing some of the leading entertainers of the world, along with the caliber of international players and coaches at the tournaments.”
chris Anderson-Joyneau, chairman and chief financial officer of isco, has proposed an ecosystem of iscoinitiatives beyond the 2022 is co football tournaments. these include a global entertainment extravaganzas lated for Antigua and Barbuda this spring and summer.
isco’s ambition is to uplift local football in various communities by mobilizing young players, coaches and trainers through its own academy and technical development center of excellence. Anderson-Joyeau says his main commitment beside the tournaments is to maintain the necessary financial sustainability for the “kick Poverty out” (kPo) campaign. “kPo aims to change the lives of impoverished youths, their families and communities, together with global humanitarian aid, by using football and entertainment,” he says. Beyond its structural commitments, kPo offers meal and nutrition programs at schools; recreational equipment for school football, basketball, baseball, netball, cricket, and track and field; and funding of football/soccer scholarships from the caribbean to the UsA ncAA system. kPo also sponsors annual Legends All-star games to benefit hurricane victims in the caribbean.
Events Set for the Global Stage
isco is designed to be global, as it plans this special and unique football event featuring global st a rs and live mainstream showbusiness artists. Billed as the biggest sporting and entertainment extravaganza in the world, it aims bring unprecedented value to fans worldwide via global digital platforms.
May 2022
A celebr ation of football and game of Legends event w ill accompany the officiallaunch of isco Football on may 21, 2022. the game will include the British royals Legends team versus the rest of the World stars, featuring recently retired marquee football players. this inaugural 2022 tournament features the Play 4 championship, which is one of the three established cup championships, for a cash prize of 1 million eUr for the winner.
A celebrity golf tournament with selected national Football League, major League Baseball, national Basketball Association, english Premier League, LaLiga and iPL cricket stars, plus Hollywood and Bollywood actors, will tee off for the isco kick Poverty out charitable campaign.
the launch celebrationwill also bring to Antigua and Barbuda some of the most popular international music artists to be part of the isco Fete Fest.
Summer 2022
From July 15 to August 13, 2022, Antigua and Barbuda will host the muchanticipated isco tournament. eight franchise teams will compete: Brazil’s samba Warriors, British royals, combined islands sharks, colombia tapirs, Africa Ubuntu, Asia Dragonaires, europa Union, and the tnt soca rivals. (two additional franchises, Americana north and Jamaica ruffnecks, will join the competition in 2023.)
2023 and Beyond
Bidding and negotiations are now underway for hosting rights to two additional isco championships: challenge ten cup and cup Winners cup. each of the three isco championships will be awarded a 1 million eUr winnertake-all cash prize.