Madrid Cricket Club (MCC) brings the drama of Twenty20 cricket to Spain for the second time
The MCC today confirmed its 2nd Solidarity Twenty20 tournament, sponsored by La Manga Club and aimed at raising money to help support the work of the Vicente Ferrer Foundation in Anantapur, India
The event will be held at the La Manga club in Murcia in southern Spain from April 25th – 27th. Eight teams from Spain, the UK and the Netherlands will be taking part: Madrid CC, La Manga CC, Mojacar CC, Bank of England CC, Belsize Village CC, Milton Keynes CC, Amsterdam CC and The Hague CC.
The money raised from the tournament will go towards improving the lives of some of the poorest and most disadvantaged people in Anantpur in India, where the Spanish NGO the Vicente Ferrer Foundation is based. Some funding will also be used for the development of cricket in Madrid.
Jonathan Woodward is the Vice president of the Madrid Cricket Club (MCC):
“We have often raised funds for NGOs, but this year we decided to go further and hold a full-blown, eight-team tournament. The funds raised in aid of the Vicente Ferrer Foundation will help to set up a cricket school for over 1 200 children with visual and hearing impairments and learning difficulties. The funds will provide specialised equipment to help them enjoy the sport so loved in their country. Other funds raised during the tournament will be used to develop cricket in Madrid. Our aim is to bring the sport we love to a wider audience and we want to encourage the Spanish to give it a try. We hope to purchase additional equipment to provide classes and practice sessions for beginners through to regular players.”
The club hosted the 1st Solidarity T20 tournament in Madrid in October 2007, raising over 2 000 Euro for UNICEF. Thanks to its efforts, ICC Europe awarded the club its ICC Development Program Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative for 2007 in Europe, the first time a Spanish club had taken a European award.
The second tournament has the full backing of Cricket España, who will use it a showcase event to highlight the “Spirit of Cricket”, marking the centenary of the ICC.
This year’s tournament will be held in La Manga Club Resort, who are the main sponsors of the event. La Manga Managing Director Julio Delgado said of the tournament:
“We are delighted to host this event using our facilities at La Manga Club, the home of cricket in Spain, to raise funds for the Vicente Ferrer Foundation. We hope this will be the first of many cricket tournaments here.”
Also sponsoring the event are local establishments the Q Bar and Si Bar, and architects and designers WestonWilliamson.
Notes:
Madrid Cricket Club is one of the premier cricket clubs in Spain. Founded in 1975, it is the oldest club in the country. Madrid CC organises, runs and develops cricket in the Spanish capital and plays in the Spanish National Cricket League, finishing runners-up in 2007 and third in 2008. Madrid CC received the 2007 ICC Development Program Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative in Europe Award for hosting the ‘1st Solidarity Twenty20 Cricket Tournament’ in October 2007 to raise funds for UNICEF.
The Vicente Ferrer Foundation is a Spanish Development NGO operating in Anantapur India. Taking a humanistic approach to development, the Foundation works to improve the life conditions of the poorest, most vulnerable and most disadvantaged people in the region, including children with disabilities (www.fundacionvicenteferrer.org).
Cricket España is the governing body for the sport in Spain. Founded in 1986, Cricket España now brings together 20 teams from many parts of the country. Its mission is to promote the sport, encourage youth participation, develop cricketing abilities, organise competitions and national teams and ensure the Spirit of Cricket prevails in the sport in Spain. Spain became an Affiliate Member of the ICC in 1992 (www.icc-europe.org/SPAIN).
More details are available on the Madrid CC website: www.cricketinmadrid.com.
Contact details for the people to speak to for more info are:
Jonathan Woodward, jon.woodward@zestfit.com, +34 655 069 911
David Stirton, david.stirton@cricketinmadrid.com, + 34 670 087 637