After the success of last year’s Ionian Inspires event in London, as part of the series of activities associated with the World Travel Market touristic exhibition, the Region of the Ionian Islands presents another unique event.  The theme of this year’s Ionian Inspires is cricket in Greece, and the establishment of an International Cricket Festival in the Ionian Islands.

The event will take place in the historic setting of Lord’s cricket ground in London, in association with the Hellenic Cricket Federation, on Tuesday 10th November 2009, at 7.00pm. Guests will include journalists from the fields of sport and tourism, players and opinion-formers from the world of cricket.

In the Long Room at the home of cricket the programme for the International Cricket Festival will be presented. The Festival will take place mainly in Corfu during the months of May, June, September and October. The aim is to establish the Festival on a regular basis, to develop theme-based tourism and to extend the touristic period. Fundamentally, the Festival hopes to spread the spirit of cricket – as expressed in the motto ‘Catch the Spirit’, marking the centenary of the International Cricket Council.

Personal appearances by famous cricketers, the participation of children from all over the world in a spirit of comradeship and equal opportunities, presentations of the history of the game, fans joining in and competing – all these elements will coexist in the ideal location: Corfu – the centre-point of the Festival.  Corfu, which connects culturally the West with the East, whose history reflects that of modern Europe, provides the ideal environment for this four month long celebration.

The Ionian Inspires event is held in cooperation with the Greek National Tourist Organisation and the International Cricket Council.