Tourism Ireland
hope to tap into the potential 2.5 billion global audience for
Cricket World Cup
matches after they were unveiled as sponsors for the Ireland team for the six- week long event in Australia and New Zealand.
The Ireland squad will carry the Ireland.com website logo on the sleeves of their playing shirts and extensively on their training kit in a six-figure deal that was launched by Minister for Sport Paschal Donohoe at Trinity College in Dublin on Thursday morning.
Members of the squad will also be used in a marketing campaign on the Ireland.com website that will target tourism growth from host nations Australia and New Zealand, as well as other cricket-loving countries, including England, India and South Africa.
Commenting on the partnership, Tourism Ireland chief executive Niall Gibbons said: "We are delighted to be associated with the Ireland cricket team and such a high-profile tournament. Our sponsorship of the team in this year's World Cup offers us a unique opportunity to highlight the island of Ireland to a huge global audience. It's wonderful for us to be involved in a sport that has such a wide appeal in many of our important tourism markets. "
Added spur
Ireland coach
Phil Simmons
was also thrilled with the link- up, even going as far as saying it could act as an added spur for the national side to reach the knock-out stages of the tournament.
“It’s brilliant, for us it’s an incentive to play well because it’s a longer time there for more people to see this and for more people to want to come to Ireland because of the way we play, and the way we are as the team. It’s great to be promoting Ireland.”
Ireland enjoyed giant-killing displays in both their previous 50-overs World Cups, while their attitude on the field has always made a huge impression in the major tournaments they have played in.
Promising that his players will continue to play with smiles on their faces, Simmons added: “Well, that’s how we play, that’s how we play all the time, so it’s good that they’ve come in now and I think it’s a big thing for us and a big thing for Ireland.”
