Live screenings of the Football World Cup knock-out stages and Wimbledon tennis competition could be shown on a big screen in Howard Davis Park this summer, if corporate sponsorship is secured.
Paul McGinnety, director of local services at the Government of Jersey, said the event was designed to “bring people together” through sport, culture and free activities for islanders of all ages.
Organisers hope to install a giant screen in the park from 9 to 19 July, showing the World Cup quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, alongside Wimbledon coverage during the day.
“It’s not just for the football fans,” said Mr McGinnety. “It’s for the people who maybe just want to walk up on a nice, sunny afternoon, bring their strawberries or whatever, and watch some tennis.”
Mr McGinnety explained that the idea grew out of previous successful public screenings of the Lionesses and recent community football events 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 project is being organised through the International Cultural Centre, which supports people who come to live and work in Jersey and promotes different cultures across the island.
Mr McGinnety said the aim was to create a “safe space” where families and young people could enjoy major sporting events without spending large amounts of money.
“The idea for this is to basically 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.”
Mr McGinnety, who is the father of two teenagers, added: “For younger people, there’s not loads to do that doesn’t cost a shed load of money, so it’s nice to do something like this, where people can just meet their friends for free.”
Alongside the screenings, Jersey Sport is expected to offer free taster sessions and activities. Meanwhile, community groups, charities, and consulates representing different nationalities on the island will also be invited to participate.
“It’s an opportunity to really celebrate diversity and cultures that we have on the island,” said Mr McGinnety.
“We know that a lot of nationalities who live in Jersey are going to have teams playing in the World Cup.”
Some funding has already been secured from the ICC budget, but Mr McGinnety said additional corporate sponsorship was needed to help deliver the full vision.
“If we can get one or two of the corporates to want to sponsor us, there are all sorts of possibilities,” he teased.
He added that if enough support was secured, organisers would also like to extend the screenings to include the Commonwealth Games later in the summer.
“Imagine a Jersey athlete being cheered on by hundreds and hundreds of people in the park,” he said. “That would be beyond our wildest dreams.”