Cheerleaders compete in Tobago

International Cheer Teams already registered to attend Cheer in the Sun.
International Cheer Teams already registered to attend Cheer in the Sun.

Cheer In The Sun is the official name for a sports tourism event which is expected to attract hundreds of cheerleading enthusiasts from around the world to Tobago in December.

The event titled Experience Culture... Cheer and Caribbean flair is is being hosted by Lequay Edge, powered by Bago Sports and sanctioned by the Cheerleading Federation of Trinidad and Tobago (TTFC) and the International Cheerleading Union (ICU).

It is scheduled from December 14 to 19 at the Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, in Lowlands, Tobago. The hotel is the official hotel partner for Cheer In The Sun.

The competition for cheer professionals will adhere to international cheerleading criteria, rules and formats, said a media release.

Lequay Edge’s director Kyle Lequay explained that one of the main objectives behind the project is to “highlight Tobago and all it has to offer”.

International Cheer Union general secretary Karl Olsen, centre, Kyle Lequay and Hans Romany of Lequay Edge.

“Looking at the industry, we felt that there was a need for a different approach to marketing TT to the world,” said Lequay in the release. “After the amazing experience of hosting the beach football events, we really fell in love with and wanted to highlight Tobago… Our sister isle has really claimed a special place in my heart personally and of course, we saw first-hand that the beach football events had a great impact and attracted a lot of tourists.

“Lequay Edge is focused on hosting events that will not only bring in foreign currency and help with the dire economic situation, but also showcase our major tourist attractions, culture, music and of course, the wonderful people of TT. Sports tourism is our niche and Cheer In The Sun is another strategic investment in our sporting tourism potential.”

For those who may be unaware, cheerleading in TT already has a sizable and enthusiastic following. A national tournament held in Trinidad earlier this year attracted over 300 participants and over 1,000 spectators, the release said.

Event director Hans Romany said: “We did extensive research on the sport and after attending international tournaments in Orlando and Prague, we’re also scheduled to attend meets in Japan and Colombia leading up to our own in Tobago.”

Cheer participants will compete in three major divisions: stunt, hip hop and cheer, with different levels in each division based on ages and the degree of difficulty of stunts. The competition will be graded by a panel of US-based judges and a mix of local judges. Winners will receive trophies, medals, sponsored merchandise, accolades and a bid to a US competition. One talented team will also win their full package refunded at around US$12,000.

Teams from the US, Canada, Norway, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Barbados have already registered. Deadline is November 14.

Participants and teams can register via email:info@cheerinthesun.com.

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