The Tribune

SPORTS World came from Indianapolis, Indiana, and left its mark on the local Bahamian sporting scene.

For a week, a team of four former professional athletes, led by its president Devon McDonald, traversed through the schools in New Providence and Grand Bahama sharing its message about making the right choices to our youngsters in their “Go Positive Bahamas Tour.”

The group also took the time out to host a football clinic in Grand Bahama and another one in New Providence. They were conducted by McDonald and Steve Grant, who both played together for the Indianapolis Colts. They were joined by Lee Rouson, a member of two championship teams from the New York Giants.

The tour was designed to encourage the youngsters to take the opportunity to evaluate what they are doing now and make a decision to turn their lives around if they are heading in the wrong direction. All four presenters shared some of their personal experiences that they encountered to becoming pro athletes.

A number of schools, including CC Sweeting, Westminster Academy, Dame Doris Johnson High, Donald Davis, St John’s College, Queen’s College, the Simpson Pen for Boys and Willie Mae Pratt for Girls, St George’s, Bishop Michael Eldon, Tabernacle Baptist, Sir Jack Hayward and Eight Mile Rock were impacted by the tour by the visitors.

The visitors were assisted by a local committee that was headed by Jacquie Bain. Among the other committee members were Pastor Geoffery Wood, Pastor Dave Burrows, Minister Clinton Minnis, Minister Sharmaine Adderley, Minister Brent Stubbs, Darvielle Burrows, Evon Wisdom and Helena Cooper from Grand Bahama.

The committee wishes to thank Lawrence Hepburn and Godfrey ‘Gully’ Burnside for assisting in putting on the football and softball clinics respectively in New Providence and Don Albury and Ossie Simon for the football camp in Grand Bahama.

Additionally, the committee also thanks Darren Turnquest, the director of youth at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and Eldece Clarke and Tyrone Sawyer from the Ministry of Tourism for their tremendous support.

Sports World, which is also grateful to the many persons who came out and lent their support as volunteers in every aspect, is looking forward to returning next year where it is hoped that they will get the chance to improve on what transpired during their initial visit to the Bahamas.