Jamaica To Host World Domino Championships

Jamaica will host the 10th World Championship of the International Domino Federation (FID) during the second week of June, 2012 at the Convention Centre, Rose Hall, Montego Bay, St. James.
Pairs and individuals from a minimum of 30 countries from across the world will participate in the three-day competition.
Speaking at the launching ceremony at Wray and Nephew Limited, Spanish Town Road, Kingston, on Thursday (June 17), Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, said the tournament is in keeping with the Government’s major events marketing thrust, building on sports tourism.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange (left) conversing with President of the International Domino Federation (FID), Lucas Guittard (right) during the launch of the 10th Domino World Championships at Wray and Nephew Limited, Kingston on June 17. At centre is Lecturer in Modern Languages, University of Technology (UTech), Antonio Pryce. The tournament will be held in the second week of June, 2012 at the Convention Centre in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, St. James.

“Our strategy is to develop sports tourism, by bringing major events to our island where the benefits outweigh the cost. Our aim is to place Jamaica as the top destination for sports competition, where we have the facilities and people to support the hosting of top class events,” she said.
The Minister noted that Jamaicans have a passion for dominoes, which has no social boundaries.
“The game is played across Jamaica in every ‘nook and cranny’, in living rooms uptown, on verandahs, at clubs, even in churches and, certainly, on the corners and, to add to all of that, (are) the formal competitions organised by the national association,” she said.
She pointed out that 2012 is very important, as during the year Jamaica will celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence and participate in the Summer Olympics in London, in addition to hosting the domino championships.
Miss Grange also commended the National Association of Domino Bodies (NADB) for the work that they have been doing over the years, adding that the Ministry is happy to be associated with the event.
President of the International Domino Federation (FID), Lucas Guittard, said that there will be a championship for ladies during the tournament.
President of the NADB, Reynold Smith, said that the sport is an excellent social intervention tool, as it is played by all classes, colours and generations, with no political choices, from the grassroots to the boardrooms.
He noted that a committee will be formed to oversee the tournament, encouraging especially women and youth to take part.
Mr. Smith said that it will cost $110 million to host the tournament, including prize money and trophies.
The NADB is the governing body for dominoes in Jamaica and, as a consequence, its mandate is to ensure the development of the sports. Its objectives are: to use dominoes as a social integration tool; increase the level of awareness of the NADB, its functions and purpose; increase the number of persons that play the sport in Jamaica.