It’s a Barmy Battle in Galle in Partnership with SriLankan Airlines
The Voice of Chandigarh | Travel Trade Reporter:
It was a Barmy battle for the trophy between cricket fans from Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the UK when the Barmy Army Fans World Cup 2023 plays out at the Galle International Stadium from 20 – 21 November 2023, in partnership with SriLankan Airlines. As the principal partner of the Barmy Army Fans World Cup 2023, SriLankan Airlines was contributory to the decision to pick out Galle as the host city of the event, as an airline that continues to mobilize global interest in Sri Lanka as a trending destination for adventure and sport through significant international events.
The Barmy Army was founded during England’s 1994/95 Ashes tour of Australia. What started as a small group of 30 backpackers staying in hostels living their dream by watching the Ashes Down Under has now evolved into the world-famous supporters’ club that it is today. With over 1.5 million social media followers and 40,000 members, the sole mission still remains the same – maximising the enjoyment of sport for all. This year’s Fans World Cup is the epitome of that – it will draw close to 100 international participants to Galle including officials from Barmy Army and the UK’s travel trade who will compete as two separate teams representing the UK.
Each of the seven participating teams were represented by 15 members and played two T10 fixtures on day one to establish group stage positions. Day two was packed in the knockout stages and semifinals as the remaining teams vie for the big prize. The tournament was live-streamed via Barmy Army’s social media channels.
SriLankan Airlines is set to create some additional excitement for the participants through fun activities on-ground including a social media contest in which a lucky winner received two return air tickets to travel between London and Colombo. The participants’ overall experience is likely to live up to Barmy Army’s motto to have fun both on and off the pitch.
The coastal city of Galle is a world of its own. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Galle offers the perfect backdrop for a game of cricket for international cricket aficionados, with its fusion of history, myth and magic. In between matches, the international cricket fan players will be drawn to discover the city’s charming, cobbled streets lined with colonial dwellings, churches and quirky little shops not forgetting its many cafes and ice cream parlours fortified by the grand, imposing 17th century Galle Fort.
SriLankan Airlines has been a driving force in promoting the island for adventure and sport tourism through an assortment of events in the spheres of surfing, cycling, mountain biking, golfing, and running over the years. With each event, SriLankan Airlines has both successfully showcased Sri Lanka for its unparalleled beauty and warm culture as well as passed on the travel bug to tens of thousands of tourists to visit Sri Lanka.
