The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE landmark achievement of the 42nd CARIFTA Games was the ability of the local organising committee (LOC) to generate a profit which was then used to establish a “Sports Foundation.”

The games generated just over $235,000 and LOC chairman Basil Christie indicated that the major portion of the foundation’s funds would go toward athletics development in the Family Islands.

The company called “Nassau Carifta Games (2013) Limited was formed for the purpose of the games and the subsequent distribution of funds.

The five-point objective for the company includes Family Island Development, launch of the IAAF-BAAA accredited training centre, national clubs’ development, Special Olympics development, and any other worthwhile athletic purpose.

“The LOC has established a Sports Foundation which was set up to distribute the funds generated from CARIFTA 2013. The foremost beneficiaries were the development of Family Island track and field programmes, specifically to assist with the training of coaches to train and recognise talent on these islands. We will also assist them in participating in local, regional and international events, with equipment and other necessary aids to help their programmes along.

“The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has embarked on an accelerated programme to develop track and field in the Family Islands, including the erection of facilities and the training of coaches as well, so we will work hand in hand with the ministry on this particular project,” Christie said.

“Additionally, we made a contribution to Special Olympics Bahamas and we also assisted with the preparation, through seed money, for the World Relays to be hosted in the Bahamas in 2014.

In May, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson delivered a concrete timeline for the development of sporting facilities in the Family Islands.

Keeping with the theme of full national sporting development across the Bahamas, Dr Johnson said the development of junior programmes will be enhanced with the establishment of a National Sports Academy and satellite academies on the Family Islands.

The second greatest contribution of the fund was a $45,000 advance doled out to the BAAA as it struggled with funding for events during the latter portion of the track and field season.

There was much public dialogue regarding the efforts of Team Bahamas to field teams to attend the IAAF World Championships in Moscow and the Junior Pan Am Championships.

A lack of funding forced Team Bahamas to skip the training camp for the World Championships and many team members received their tickets to travel just days before the start of the meet on August 10.

Special Olympics Bahamas also received a sum of $10,000 for its various expenses. Christie is the former chairman of the organisation.

The Foundation also became one of the first to come on board with the sponsorship of the highly anticipated inaugural edition of the IAAF World Relays, with a contribution of $3,849.

In September, Dr Johnson announced that the government expects to spend $3-5 million on each edition of the meet, in both 2014 and 2015.

Dr Johnson said the government expects to double its financial returns when 700 athletes and 300 officials are expected to visit the Bahamas for the events.

Officials said 25 full-time paid jobs and 150 part-time jobs will be created with the World Relays LOC.