Newly elected chairman of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Richard Sealy, is slated to be a keynote speaker at the opening ceremony of the two-day Soccerex Americas Forum at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on October 21 and 22.
Sealy will join other major speakers such as Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber and Soccerex chairman Tony Martin at the opening ceremony.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport Richard Sealy
This is the first time Barbados will be the host country of this prestigious forum, which brings together key industry decision-makers from the world of football and provides a unique commercial environment where delegates will benefit from exclusive business opportunities, networking and bespoke educational content.
The forum will be the playing field for sports buyers, suppliers and key decision-makers within the Americas – and the rest of the world – to network and do business. It will also feature an agenda-setting programme, covering topics such as league development, player development and retention and sport tourism – a key focus for countries within this region with their attractive climates and rich sporting culture.
There will also be a focus on major events with the 2016 Copa America and a potential CONCACAF 2026 World Cup bid high on the agenda. The event will include a host of footballing legends sharing their opinions on the beautiful game, including a review of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Commenting on the new event, Petra Roach, interim president and chief executive officer of the Barbados Tourism Authority, said: “We are proud and privileged to be the host location for this year’s Soccerex Americas Forum. As a nation of sporting enthusiasts, we take football very seriously, and thus are delighted to be able to facilitate an event whereby the beautiful game is at the core of the discourse.”