The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemdedia.net

THE Bahamas Olympic Committee, expressing its gratitude to Jacques Rogge for his past presidency of the International Olympic Committee, has revealed a number of programmes that they hope will lend its support to greater participation of Bahamian athletes on the international scene.

Rogge, who demitted office on September 10 after serving as president for the past 12 years, has been responsible for the introduction of the Youth Olympic Games and through enhanced media revenues, leaves just under four billion dollars for the Winter Games and another four billion dollars for the Summer Games.

“Also, a proud part of outgoing president Rogge’s legacy will be remembered as having promoted the expanding inclusion of women in Olympic sports and in the Olympic Games,” said Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller during a recent press conference.

Rogge has been replaced by Thomas Bach, who is a former Olympic gold medallist in team fencing. He served on numerous commissions within the IOC and he brings a wealth of experience of the inner workings of the Olympic movement.

“We wish him every success as he builds on the legacy left behind by his predecessor,” Miller said.

The BOC, in the meantime, is building on its own programme, having secured Development Grants to the Bahamas Volleyball Federation, the Bahamas Judo Federation, the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association, the Bahamas Rugby Union, the Bahamas Cycling Federation, the Amateur Boxing Federation of the Bahamas and the Bahamas Wrestling Federation.

As a result of the success of both the BVF junior and senior men’s national teams in their respective competitions in St Maarten and Guadeloupe, Miller said they have been able, through their partner Olympic Solidarity, to provide them with a grant of $60,000.

Additionally, Miller said the BLTA will benefit from the Olympic Solidarity a coach’s grant for Level 1 courses from $9,000 to $12,000.

With the BBF benefitting from a Level II coach’s course two years ago, Miller said the BOC intends to work closely with the federation with the view of assisting them in their effort to get the Bahamas to have a team qualified to compete at the Olympics in the future.

For those sports that may feel left out, Miller said they have partnered with the Pan American Sports Organisation to offer international coaches courses in weightlifting, handball and horsemanship.

He said the Bahamas Powerlifting and Weightlifting Federation, under newly elected president Robert ‘Bob’ Brown, are committed to getting Bahamians to compete in weightlifting at the Olympics.

“We welcome this initiative in weightlifting and we will do all we can to support Mr Brown’s transition from powerlifting to Olympic weightlifting,” said Miller of the former national powerlifting champion. “We look forward to seeing his athletes on the medal podium in short order.

“The Bahamas Olympic Committee, in addition to weightlifting, welcomes the introduction of new Olympic sports to the sports calendar in the Bahamas. Sports such as rowing, handball, fencing, horsemanship, badminton and archery. Through the International Fencing Federation, we have been able to provide the local fencing federation with equipment.”