The Pan-American Lacrosse Association (PALA) recently selected Jamaica as hosts of the 2023 PALA Sixes Cup, and President of the Jamaica Lacrosse Association (JLA) Calbert Hutchinson wants corporate Jamaica to make the most of the opportunity. The Sixes Cup is scheduled for November in Kingston.
It will be the first international tournament to be hosted by the JLA and Hutchinson said the tournament will, apart from growing the sports to new heights locally, provide a chance for local multinational companies to benefit exponentially from its various online streaming platforms.
“We are hoping this event puts lacrosse in the same category as other traditional sports in Jamaica, and put us in a position to get the type of support needed to drive the development throughout the country,” Hutchinson said. “There are many multinational organisations in Jamaica that rely on the international scene for their products and services, and hundreds of people will be tuning in on the online and streaming services that we will provide for this event.”
Although some support has been coming in, the JLA boss said a lot more is required. He noted they have had to turn away schools from the high-school competition because of the lack of support. He thinks that with the right support for this championship, they can drive their development programmes forward.
“This event will put us in a position to get all the necessary support we need to continue our development. We are looking at lacrosse companies who want to spread their wings in Jamaica and the Caribbean,” he said.
Twenty-two countries will have the option of sending a male and a female senior team and male and female under-20 teams to the tournament, and Hutchinson is confident that all three Jamaican teams are capable of top-four finishes.
He also believes it will be good for young developing players.
“This will give local players an opportunity to get a good gauge of where they are and what they need to be competitive on the world scene.
“We are excited about the opportunity. It is for us to plan and execute a seamless event, one that allows us to be a country of choice for any other international event,” he said.
Interim PALA President Ann Kitt Carpenetti was thrilled to appoint Jamaica as hosts.
“Jamaica will provide a world-class experience for participating teams and spectators,” she commented.
The Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) will partner with the JLA in hosting the event, and President Christopher Samuda welcomed the collaboration with the JLA.
“The sporting experience which the JLA and the JOA, in partnership, will give to the PALA family in Kingston will deepen and cement bonds and give greater meaning to the unifying spirit of sport,” Samuda said.