The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WE have a look, we have an emblem, and the countdown toward the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup is officially underway.

Nine months away from opening kickoff, the Local Organising Committee unveiled the official look and emblem of the event at a press conference hosted yesterday at the Atlantis Resort.

In an event expected to revolutionise the sport in the country, 16 teams from around the world will be taking part in the tournament hosted April 27 to May 7, 2017 at the new beach soccer stadium, currently under construction near the Nassau side of the Paradise Island Bridge.

Bahamas Football Association President Anton Sealey said the entire country should begin its preparation to host the international football community.

“This is an exciting time for the BFA and for the country in general. Beach soccer is such an exciting and spectacular event and this runs for 14 days, it’s a festival. The island of the Bahamas will play host to some of the most acrobatic, exciting football that we have ever seen,” he said. “We at the BFA have worked extremely hard to make sure that we land this event because we know the impact it can have, not only on the local sporting community but also economically for the country as a whole.”

The new beach soccer facility at the foot of the Sir Sidney Poitier Bridge has an expected completion date of November 2016.

“It will be the first of its kind, certainly in the region and one of the best beach soccer facilities in the world.  We hope to have it completed by November and that will transform that entire area,” Sealey said. “When I approached Dr Daniel Johsnon with the idea of hosting this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup he said this is what his ministry is about and under his direction and his guidance with this, and with a number of other events, we have furthered our development into the business of sports.”

According to the LOC, the emblem is intended to reflect the positive uplifting nature of the tournament and the local culture of the host country. The emblem uses the shape of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Official Trophy as the canvas and the vivid colours reflect the pristine landscape and culture of the host country.

“The official emblem is a testament to the beauty of The Bahamas and the great appeal of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. We are delighted to unveil this iconic emblem along with the tournament’s official look, inviting beach soccer fans to join what promises to be an exciting and colourful event”, said Thierry Weil, FIFA marketing director.

At the heart of the official emblem, an orange sunset hovers above three pillars. The first column shows the silhouette of a player performing one of the spectacular athletic feats beach soccer is known for across the world. The 16 white dots mirror the islands of The Bahamas when seen from the sky. The central pillar features a feather, a reference to the islands’ national bird, the flamingo. And the bright costumes on display at the biggest local festival Junkanoo. The third pillar is the silhouette of a wave, to show the hundreds of kilometres of beach and coast that make up the pristine Bahamian archipelago.

LOC Chairman Jeffrey Beckles said the launch was a call to action for all Bahamians to seek involvement in the upcoming tournament in some form or another.

“It serves as a clarion call to Team Bahamas, the people that live here and call this country home. We encourage Bahamians everywhere to get involved volunteering their time and their effort to ensure that this event will be the best event that FIFA ever put on in its history.

“We welcome the world to our shores. Hosting this event is another giant step in our quest to become the premier sports destination in the world. This unveiling signals the official countdown, which is nine months away.

“We are extremely proud to release this beautiful imagery, which not only represents what we are as Bahamians, but offers a view of what embodies the spirit of what it means to be Bahamian. The thousands of visitors who will visit our shores to experience this magnificent tournament will not only see the vibrancy and colour of the country in the official emblem and the pageantry, they will feel it when they interact with our warm, hospitable people.”

Participants in the event will be confirmed after the six continental qualifying stages during 2016 and 2017. Groups and match schedule will be announced at the official draw on February 28, 2017.

“We have this brand that is better than any in the world. Last year $7.6 trillion was spent on sports and leisure travel. Our brand, as you know, has a market share and anywhere in the world you know that brand. What we didn’t know is what’s better in the Bahamas. What is the ‘it’ we have that no one else has,” Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr. Daniel Johnson said, “We have the best brands coming to the world. We know FIFA had their Congress here, and they were impressed with the brand. Our question was how do we co-brand. Obviously the world knows we have the best beaches and it was easy for us to say beach soccer is certainly better in the Bahamas.”

Official information on the  FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 can be found at fifa.com/beachsoccerworldcup.

You can follow Team Bahamas at https://www.facebook.com/beachsoccer2017