- Target:
- City of London
- Region:
- Canada
Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world, in terms of participation and spectators. It is played in every part of the English-speaking world and in several non-English-speaking countries.
Cricket also has a long and distinguished history in Canada, where it was the most popular sport until the 20th Century. Sir. John A. Macdonald liked it enough to declare it the national sport of Canada. Moreover, the first ever cricket match was played on Canadian soil in 1785. Cricket is also a part of London's heritage. The "Eldon House Diaries" indicate that cricket matches were a regular occurrence in this city. Aside from being an integral part of our heritage, Cricket is regaining its relevance to Canada.
Our national team has made it to the World Cup several times and talented Canadian players are starting to get noticed on the world stage, despite the fact that Canada has no major cricketing facilities. Immigration is also increasing cricket's relevance with major cricket-playing nations accounting for a bulk of new Canadians. Currently, Londoners have to make do with playing in empty parking lots, indoor gyms, baseball diamonds and backyards.
Despite the lack of facilities, several informal cricketing clubs - composed of university students, other post-secondary students, and working professionals - exist in the London area. If any Londoners want to engage in a formal game of cricket, they have to travel to Toronto, Waterloo or Windsor, which are cities that have public cricketing facilities. London will benefit from a local cricket facility. It will attract business in the form of organized cricket matches with teams from other parts of Ontario.
A cricketing facility will also render London a more attractive destination for those who are considering studying, working or traveling here.
With these facts in mind, we the undersigned hereby petition the City of London to commit to:
1. Exploring the possibility of building a cricket pitch on any of London's parks and fields.
2. Developing partnerships with sporting bodies such as Cricket Canada and Ontario Cricket Association to develop the game of cricket in London.
3. Asking for assistance from the federal government, whether through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program under the Economic Action Plan or through other means.
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The Petition for a cricket facility for London, Ontario petition to City of London was written by Jonathan and is in the category Sports at GoPetition.