The island will be treated to a prelude to Cup Match on July 25 as young cricketers take to the pitch at Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club for the Mini Cup Match Classic.

The annual summer day camp match, sponsored by the insurance company Coralisle Group Ltd, will bring the St George’s youth team to defend their title as holders from 10am to 3pm.

The Department of Sport and Recreation teamed up with CG as well as Cricket West Indies and the Bermuda Cricket Board to boost cricket coaching and support.

Owen Darrell, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, told the Senate today that the “iconic event” of Cup Match this year on August 1 and 2 “unites us as a community, transcending boundaries of age, race and background, to revel in our shared love for cricket, camaraderie and the vibrant culture that makes our island nation so unique”.

The island’s roads are already draped in Cup Match colours along with “the buzz of the workplace and community where many people are declaring their sides”, he noted.

Mr Darrell thanked the 2024 hosts, Somerset Cricket Club, along with Richard Scott, their president, and the team of organisers, sponsors and “countless volunteers” readying for the event.

He also commended Mishael Paynter, the St George’s Cricket Club president, and his team.

“I would also like to congratulate newly appointed captain Terryn Fray in his new role leading his team, Somerset, in this year’s Classic,” Mr Darrell told the Upper House, noting that Mr Fray was the first Bailey’s Bay player to captain Somerset in a Cup Match.

The senator also highlighted the 120th annual Eastern County match set for Saturday at St David’s Cricket Club, with Cleveland County taking on Bailey’s Bay.

Emancipation Day on August 1 is to be commemorated this year under the theme of “Reimagining Community: Snapshots of Our Past” by the Department of Culture.

Mr Darrell noted the roots of the two-day Cup Match celebration in a tradition established by the island’s Friendly Societies in the aftermath of enslavement, which came to an end in 1834.

The second day of the holiday is named for Mary Prince, born into enslavement in Bermuda, whose classic narrative, The History of Mary Prince, documenting “the brutal realities of slavery” fired up support in Britain for the cause of emancipation.

Mr Darrell said that a 30-minute documentary on the history and culture of the Court Street area would air at the Court Street Market on July 28.

He said that the department worked with students associated with the charity Family Centre to gather history for the film, produced by Marq Rodriguez with the researcher and journalist Meredith Ebbin.

Mr Darrell said the Kenneth E. Robinson/Cyril Outerbridge Packwood Memorial Lecture on August 21, to be delivered by researcher Yusef Bushara, would detail the work of Richard Saunders, a Black Bermudian photojournalist whose work won “international acclaim”.

Much of Mr Saunders’s career was spent in the United States, where he established himself with work appearing in publications including Life, The New York Times, Fortune and Ebony.

Mr Darrell added: “The importance of commemorating emancipation cannot be overstated.

“Emancipation is not just a historical event; it is a testament to the power of human resilience and the enduring quest for justice and equality.

“It reminds us of the importance of standing up against oppression and advocating for the rights and dignity of all people.

“As we reflect on our past, we must also look to the future, with a commitment to building a society that values and respects every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances.”