BUSINESSES are being urged to back plans for a free community sports festival in Howard Davis Park this summer, featuring a giant screen showing the latter stages of the Football World Cup and Wimbledon.
Paul McGinnety, director of local services at the Government of Jersey, said organisers were seeking corporate sponsors to help deliver the event, which would run from 9 to 19 July and bring together live sport, community activities and cultural celebrations.
The proposal would see quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals from the World Cup shown on a big screen in the park, alongside Wimbledon coverage during the day.
Mr McGinnety explained that the idea had grown out of previous successful public screenings of the Lionesses, as well as community football initiatives organised with Jersey Sport.
“We just thought, let’s do something spectacular to bring people together,” he said. “Football and food bring everybody together. It’s kind of like an international language.”
The event is being organised through the International Cultural Centre, which supports people who come to live and work in Jersey and promotes cultural diversity on the island.
Mr McGinnety said organisers hoped the screenings would provide a safe, inclusive environment for families, young people and sports fans who might not want to watch matches in pubs.
“The idea for this is basically to bring the community together,” he said. “It’s a safe space for people who maybe don’t want to go to the pubs to watch football.”
As well as live sport, the event could include food concessions, community stalls and free sporting activities led by Jersey Sport.
Mr McGinnety said consulates and community groups would also be invited to take part to reflect the international nature of the tournament.
“It’s an opportunity to really celebrate diversity and cultures that we have on the Island,” he said.
Some funding has already been secured from the ICC budget, but Mr McGinnety said additional backing from businesses would be key to making the full programme possible.
“Any sort of corporate partners who want to be involved in what’s going to be basically a festival of sport would be great,” he said.
“It ticks all the boxes. It’s free, it’s sports, it’s for all ages. It celebrates the diversity of our community.”
Mr McGinnety suggested sponsorship opportunities could include branded deckchairs and other festival-style additions to help create a relaxed atmosphere in the park.
“It’s really, let’s have some fun. Let’s actually celebrate the Island,” he said. “Big screen, Howard Davis Park, people having fun in a safe environment.”
Mr McGinnety added that if enough funding was secured, organisers would also explore screening the Commonwealth Games later in the summer, allowing Islanders to gather and support Jersey athletes competing for medals.
“It could be a really feel-good, nice project for the Island,” he said. “It only happens every four years, and we will screen Wimbledon as well, so it’s not just for the football fans.”
