The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

A creatively designed promotional poster, depicting the Bahamas in its true elements, was unveiled during the launch of the 30-day countdown to the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas.

Anton Sealey, president of the Bahamas Football Association, along with Jeffrey Beckles, chairman of the Local Organising Committee, did the unveiling during a press conference yesterday at the newly constructed Malcolm Park Beach Soccer facility.

The poster was on display along with the Winner’s Trophy that will be up for grabs for the championship team at the end of theFIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas, scheduled for April 27 to May 7 in the 3,500 seat arena.

The trophy, displayed in a protective trophy case, will be making a journey through some of the Bahamian islands, including Grand Bahama, Abaco, Eleuthera and Cat Island before the competition gets underway.

According to Royann Dean, the marketing chairman of the LOC, the posters, created in collaboration with the LOC and FIFA, will be on display on billboards very shortly promoting the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas.

“I love it. I think it’s an unique representation of our event,” Dean said. “I think it makes a strong statement about the Bahamas.

“When you compare it with other posters from past events, this definitely stands out as it represents who we are. It’s very colourful and light-hearted. And it looks welcoming.”

The poster highlights a Bahamian player in uniform kicking the official game ball with the replica of the Atlantis resort in the background.

It’s also surrounded by trees, flamingos, blue marlins and the swimming pigs as there is also a Bahamasair plane flying in the tropical blue skies.

Dean said the concept of the design took a little while and that was because they wanted to tell the story of the Bahamas and display their excitement for the event that will draw 16 of the world’s best teams in 14 days of activities, including nine for competition.

“We worked hard to ensure that we had the right concept,” Dean stressed. “It’s one of a vineyard. You see the beach soccer player kicking the unique ball, you see the elements of nature and even the animals and the sky and Bahamasair are also a part of the elements.

“That took some time to develop, but once we got started and we had some drafts, the FIFA design team worked with us in producing the final product.”

Dean encouraged the Bahamian public to start looking for the billboards as they are placed around the city this week.