Publication: Western Focus

Now in its fifth year the Social Development Com-mission's (SDC) National Twenty/20 Cricket Competi-tion is set to continue its goal of advancing community development through sports.

The competition engages two-thirds of the 783 communities in Jamaica over the period starting with a preliminary round. In the prelims an average of 28 teams are registered per parish with knock-out rallies used to identify the top-16 teams that compete at the parish level.

At the parish phase teams are drawn in four groups of four per parish, using a league format that lasts three weeks. From there, the top-two teams from each group will advance to the Super-8 KO in each parish to determine the parish winners.

Sixteen teams, 15 parish winners, (Portmore is treated as a parish) plus the best runner-up then move to the national level.

popular event

More than 4000 individuals between ages 14 -50 play in this increasingly popular event each year, with another 200 or more persons gaining seasonal employment as venue administrators and umpires.

The cash prizes for this year's competition have been significantly boosted with the champion receiving $600,000, $300,000 for the runners-up $200,000 for third place and $100,000 for fourth place.

Last year's competition saw Orange Hill in St Ann and South Stars United in Manchester sharing the first-place cash prize and bragging rights for the competition. That did not go down well with both teams; and this year the intensity and the rivalry should be unleashed. Both teams have vowed to become the sole champion.

The SDC is producing the National Twenty/20 Community Cricket Competition with the aim of fostering youth inclusion and enhancing positive attitude at the community level. Another area of focus is increasing the communities' capacities to undertake their own development through linkage with other government agencies and stakeholders who will be setting up booths at selected venues islandwide. Also, to increase overall awareness and action steps towards achieving Jamaica's National 2030 vision.

The sponsors of this year's competition are:

Lasco Remittance (agents of Moneygram)

Juici Patties

Singer Jamaica Limited

Gas Pro

Logo Stitch

TVJ SN

Hitz 92 FM

The Gleaner Company Limited