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Cardiff, a perfect canvas for a Trinidad and Tobago-styled Carnival and model for Sports Tourism

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Trinidad and Tobago’s High Commissioner to London, His Excellency Garvin Nicholas, recently returned to London from a whirlwind two-day trip to Cardiff, Wales, where he held valuable meetings with representatives of the Welsh government; toured a number of Olympic sporting facilities; and viewed Cardiff MAS Carnival preparations.

While relations between Trinidad and Tobago and Wales are well established, the High Commissioner’s visit aimed at strengthening relations with its capital, Cardiff, particularly in the areas of culture and sport.

During his respective meetings with the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones, and the Leader of the Cardiff Council, Councillor Rodney Berman, along with Councillor Nigel Howells, responsible for Sport, Leisure and Culture, the High Commissioner was keen to note that Cardiff presented the perfect canvas for a large-scale Trinidad and Tobago-styled Carnival given the City’s layout, infrastructure and cultural diversity. Noting that a similar concept already existed in Cardiff’s annual MAS Carnival, a small Carnival portrayal which lasts for 2 hours, High Commissioner Nicholas reviewed the potential benefits of expanding the existing event which sees participation by a few hundred enthusiasts to one which will attract tens of thousands of participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators.

The introduction of a large-scale Carnival in Cardiff would be of mutual benefit to Trinidad and Tobago and Cardiff. Given that it will entail exporting Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival product to Cardiff, the venture will undoubtedly provide opportunities for trade amongst locals of Cardiff and masmakers in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as among the Diaspora.

Using Trinidad and Tobago as an example, he also noted that the annual Carnival attracted thousands of international visitors. Hotels were usually fully subscribed during this period and this has translated into considerable revenue. Highly enthused by the possibility of staging such an event in Cardiff and its spin-off benefits, both leaders expressed the desire to partner with Trinidad and Tobago on the venture, which should be launched in the summer of 2012.

During the High Commissioner’s visit to Channel View Leisure Centre, where efforts were underway to complete costumes for the August 6th Carnival, discussions were held with representatives of South Wales Intercultural Community Arts (SWICA), led by Mr. Steve Fletcher. Similarities were identified between both Carnivals and the representatives of SWICA expressed their excitement at the possibility of staging a huge Carnival in Cardiff.

With regard to sports, High Commissioner Nicholas visited and toured a number of state-of-the-art facilities, some of which are to be used for training by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic team. These included the Millennium Stadium, the Millennium Swimming Pool, the White Water Rafting Centre, Cardiff International Sports Stadium and SWALEC Cricket Grounds. Impressed by the sophisticated infrastructure at a number of these facilities and the extent of new development that has taken place in Cardiff, High Commissioner Nicholas noted that Cardiff could serve as a model for Trinidad and Tobago, which is actively looking at tourism, particularly sport tourism, as a means of diversifying Trinidad and Tobago’s economy away from oil and gas.

Throughout the visit, one message remained clear. Trinidad and Tobago was eager to work with Cardiff in the areas of culture and sport to establish a legacy of engagement well beyond the London 2012 Olympics.

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