The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) president Mike Sands is using one idea to describe his re-election campaign: consistency.

Sands formally kicked off his re-election campaign when he announced his intentions yesterday at a press conference, outlining the accomplishments of his administration and the prospective goals he has set for a second term.

Ten days prior to the election of officers is held at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture on November 17, Sands set out to clarify several matters and implore delegates to allow his administration to continue its mandate. 

“We are happy to report that 70 per cent of our plan was accomplished. I am privileged and humbled to have participated over the past 36 months in shaping a new direction for the association along with my colleagues. It was a diverse multi-faceted blend of youth serving alongside mature individuals with technical and leadership skills in business, finance, management, organisation and technical operations.

“What we were able to achieve in three years following a plan that outlined a vision for the way forward for the BAAA is unprecedented,” Sands said. “We rescued the association from a regressing path, brought back excitement, enthusiastic fan support, restored corporate confidence in our programme, rekindled passion among athletes, coaches and brought national interest to the sport.”

Sands said the future is bright for track and field in the Bahamas and we can expect to continue to excel on the international stage through the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

“The next term’s leadership will require a team of committed, experienced persons with knowledge, professional qualification and skills who are prepared to serve. I am that person to lead the association for another term.”

Sands outlined the platform for his administration as he seeks a second term in office.

• Marketing and Corporate Agreements: continue to build on relationships with partners and secure long term agreements for financial stability and fixed income annually

• Programme Continuity: continue to promote and support development initiatives to prepare athletes for continuity and transition through Kids Athletics, Youth, Junior, Collegiate and Senior Elite Athletes to build depth within the programme’s levels

• Coaching Education and Certification: Increase financial support for coaches to benefit from higher-level education and certification programmes generally and to specialise in event areas. Jointly funded initiatives.

• Relay Teams: Prepare and send men and women 400m and 1600m member relay teams to the World Outdoor Championships and 2016 Rio Olympic Games

• New T A Robinson Stadium: maximise the opportunity to generate annual revenues from “Sports Tourism” athletic events at the TAR stadium to support BAAA programmes. Carifta Games and IAAF World Relays 2014 and 2015. Achieve certification from the IAAF for the Bahamas as a designated jurisdiction to host IAAF Area Permit competitions.

• Social Media and BAAA Website: use these mediums to generate annual revenues from advertising and general community financial donations

• Carifta Games and World Relays: continue with planning to host these major championships in the Bahamas and to prepare our athletes for podium medal positions

• Athletes Performances: raise the bar for excellence from athletes to become podium medal performers increasing the Bahamas’ regional and world rankings

• IOC Grant Assistance: Identify athletes and secure continued grant assistance from the International Olympic Committee for our Olympic development athletes during the next quadrennial period, to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics

• Partnerships with Coaches: strengthen the relationships with coaches to focus on performance by providing them with additional financial and in-kind resources for their programmes

• 2016 Rio Olympic Games: create with the local and collegiate coaches a “Project Rio” plan with goals for the preparation and development of senior athletes to field a strong team of potential medal performers in individual and relay events

• External Marketing Agency: engage by contract an agency or individuals to secure funding for programmes

• Human Resources: recruit persons with innovative ideas, managerial and technical skills to join and support BAAA work

• BAAA Professional Organisation: continue to position the BAAA in the direction of a blended “Volunteer Professional” organisation

• Coaches Incentive Increases: increase the incentive bonus to coaches for podium medal junior athletes performances at World, Senior, CAC, Commonwealth Games, Senior Pan AM Games, World Junior and Senior Championships or Olympics

• IAAF Accredited Training Centre: launch the ATC Nassau in 2013 establishing an administrative, technical and coaching structure to include certified coaches from New Providence, Grand Bahama and the Family Islands

• Constitutional Reform: establish a committee to review and make changes to the constitution following recommendations from members and to align with the IAAF where feasible.

Sands said he has yet to identify a full slate of officers but will do so after a vetting process takes place.

“Our document is a work in progress, it is not static. We do not suggest or propose that we have all the ideas. We have produced it, we have been working on it. I have looked at the other document and there are strong similarities in the documents,” he said.

“My mistakes have allowed me to see even more clearly, a vision for the BAAAs to move forward with the support of the track and field community. At the end of the day the learning curve is minimised. There may be a few new persons coming in but the ship needs a steady and experienced hand to continue the progress we have made thus far. There is no need to look back and turn back and I think it is a dis service to the organisation to start over anew. We welcome new additions, but we feel we need to stay the course for progression and continuity.”

Sands and his team will be opposed by former two-time Olympic sprinter turned architect Iram Lewis, who launched his campaign for the presidency last week.

The others who joined Lewis were Carl Oliver for general secretary, Mabeline Miller for assistant secretary, Philippa Arnett-Willie for treasurer and Susan Glinton for public relations.

Lewis, who in addition to having represented the country at two Olympic Games, was also a World Championship semifinalist and Pan-Am finalist.

The former national record holder also served as a manager on the BAAA national team that participated in Guatemala. He said that having been asked to serve, he felt obligated to step forward to lead the group.