Sports Leaders Must Lobby For National Sports Fund

There is the youthful cross country squad that will compete this weekend in an important meet in Orlando Florida.

Then, a senior team will travel next month for competition in the most prestigious indoor event in the world. The International Association of Athletics Federations World Indoor Championships will be held in Valencia, Spain.

These are just two of many national teams the BAAA must seek to send to events, enabling the Commonwealth of the Bahamas to stay on the cutting edge of track and field in the world. There is also the annual regional Carifta extravaganza scheduled March 21-24 for St. Kitts, Nevis.

The demand keeps getting greater and greater. What the BAAA gets in grants from the Government of the Bahamas and sponsorship from Corporate Bahamas is really not a collectively comfortable amount. It’s always a case of scrounging to get by. With the juniors and seniors to afford ample competitive opportunities each year, the BAAA is in a pressured situation always.

I use the BAAA as an example of the difficulty faced by the sporting family in this country. Readers of my columns would be aware of the many times I have pointed out this dilemma for all sporting federations in the land.

Let’s make it abundantly clear. Giving what they have had to work with, various government ministers responsible for sports in different central administrations have done yeoman services to the federations. In particular, there is the present Minister of State for Youth and Sports. He has already gone beyond the call of duty in assisting all sporting organizations.

But, his limitations are a serious problem for those who propel the country’s great sports industry.

The time has come for sports leaders in this country to come together and lobby for a sustained financial cause that will adequately fund all sports. Yesterday, I wrote about the government putting a referendum of gambling to the general public. In the referendum there should be the language that supports a sizeable percentage of the funding derived from gambling fees to be allocated for a sports fund.

I call on all sports leaders across this beautiful and wonderful archipelago of ours to join hands in lobbying to the Government of the Bahamas. Mike Sands, who heads the largest sports organization in the country, the BAAA, has pledged his full support behind such a lobbying effort. Countries throughout the world enable their athletes to benefit handsomely from legal gambling funds. I just came out of Jamaica when I had several high-level sports meetings. The Jamaican Sports Development Foundation functions based on funds that come from the national lottery.

If we follow, our top performances in regional and international competitions would double. A national sports funds would create a comfort zone for our elite performers, allowing them to easily represent their country at every major event, rather than opting out of some in order to earn a living on the track and field circuit.

How would we do at the Central American and Caribbean Games, Pan American Games, Commonwealth Games level if every one of our elites feel no financial pressure and are able to attend?

Fantastically well!

What difference would it make if a national sports fund is in place and our team sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball and boxing can get together for six months in special camps prior to competition?

A world of a difference!

Having canvassed views from people from all aspects of our society, I’m convinced that a referendum on gambling with a sports fund involved would pass with flying colours.

I see this as a great opportunity for sports leaders to come together.

Let’s see what happens.