Domino World Champs serve off June 3

Orville Clarke, Gleaner Writer

More than 20 countries and over 650 players are expected to contest the 10th Domino World Championship at the Montego Bay Convention Centre from June 3 to 10 this year.

Plans for this ambitious project were outlined by members of the International Domino Federation and the organising committee of the National Association of Domino Bodies, during a courtesy call on the minister without portfolio for sports in the office of the Prime Minister, Natalie Neita-Headley, at Jamaica House yesterday.

The minister, who met the delegation of top domino officials worldwide, said the government will make every effort to ensure the team delivers a world-class tournament.

This will include a female championship for the first time in the history of these championships. Neita-Headley was quick to add that she welcomed the idea of having a female championship and would work on having domino being recognised as a sporting discipline.

Proclamation

The minister was asked to facilitate a proclamation declaring domino a sport in Jamaica, with the week of June 3 designated as the Sport of Domino Week.

As a symbolic gesture, a pack of special dominoes was presented to Neita-Headley by Lucas Guittard, president of the International Domino Federation. The minister also received a commemorative medal, similar to the ones which will be presented to the winners, from Pedro Ruiz, president of the Spanish Association of Dominoes.

Guittard and Ruiz were accompanied by Manuel Oquendo, president of the USA Domino Federation; Julio Buitrado, general secretary of the International Domino Federation; David Mais, chairman of the local organising committee; along with Rey Smith, president of the National Association of Domino Bodies; Humbert Davis, vice-president, and Michael Muirhead, who is in charge of logistic operations.

In addition to team (men and women) and individual play, the tournament will also facilitate a junior section.

Plans under way

Rey Smith said plans for the championship are in high gear.

"With this major event coinciding with Jamaica's 50th Independence celebrations, interest will be pretty high and we anticipate a successful tournament," he said.

Participating countries include hosts Jamaica, Russia, the United States, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Spain and other European countries.

Smith disclosed that of the 650 players already registered, over 500 are from Spanish-speaking countries.

In 2009, Jamaica did extremely well in the seventh World Championship in St Petersburg, Russia. They then applied for the rights to host a World Championship and were awarded the honour in 2012.

Smith noted that domino is "Jamaica's favourite pastime".