Call me a slave to the all-mighty pun, but I sure get a kick out of watching a good soccer match.
And this weekend, I wasn’t alone as thousands gathered in Ladysmith to participate in the 2012 Mini World Cup.
In two days, roughly 1,000 kids played 198 games of soccer on six local fields.
Take a moment to stop and think about that.
It was estimated that approximately 3,000 people came to Ladysmith for the Mini World Cup over a two-day period. It doesn’t really take a rocket scientist to see the potential local spinoffs from an event of that size.
So often we talk [and even argue!] about revenue generation — about ways to support our local businesses and make Ladysmith a destination, not a drive-thru on the way to Nanaimo or the South Island.
And then there are groups like the Mid-Isle Soccer Club, who quietly go in and get the job done.
Granted, they didn’t do it alone. The success of this weekend is also owed to the countless volunteers, the energy and enthusiasm of the players, the businesses and organizations who stepped up to the plate and the town’s staff for donating their time and resources.
What I saw was people coming together in a positive environment for a positive cause with positive economic benefits for our town. And all in the name of good sportsmanship and fun. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Three cheers to the Mid-Isle Soccer Club and everyone who played a part in last weekend’s Mini World Cup.
— Niomi Pearson
