The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

WITH an aim to further encompass its founding objectives for its first major launch programme, Next Phenom has delayed its inaugural symposium to the summer of 2016 as the budding initiative continues its growth process.

Bahamian entrepreneur Marques Williams said his Next Phenom programme aims to fill a void in youth sports in the Bahamas and throughout the region through a number of unique techniques.

The organisation’s Youth Sports Symposium, originally scheduled for the end of this month, will now be hosted during the mid-June to mid-July 2016 timeframe.

“We are working closely with our mission partners, including industry, the government and our sponsors, to provide the rich content, meaningful dialogue and active networking at the symposium,” Williams said in a press release. “Despite the date change, the government and industry partners remain strongly supportive of this event. We are happy we successfully rescheduled it to next summer, and we are glad we can continue working with the Discover the Next Phenom team. We look forward to a very successful symposium.”

Next Phenom seeks to provide a social media platform for athletes aimed at creating a multi-faceted database with the tagline, “Be seen and have fun.”

“It is geared toward helping the development of youth sports worldwide. It is a website that we want to develop into the “LinkedIn” for sports. A place where athletes can build a sports résumé, a place where athletes can interact with other coaches, athletes, recruiters and any kind of sports influences. It’s community developed to enhance the athlete’s overall performance and create a better overall athlete,” he said.

Williams and the Next Phenom programme was selected from over 2,730 international entrants as one the 32 finalists in the Talent and Innovation Competition of the Americas.

He cited the experience in the competition, in addition to the soft launch of Next Phenom in November 2014, as the stepping stone towards greater exposure and a full launch.

“We determined that we have to get more marketing power behind the brand, so one of the things we proposed was a ‘Youth Sports Symposium.’ We want to find out all the issues from persons in regard to what is going on with youth sports. What are the good aspects, bad aspects, what needs to be improved, the direction it’s headed and all other influences in the industry,” he said.

“With this symposium we hope to address several issues. We want to bring more focus on sports medicine, proper nutrition, health and fitness - all are major issues. We want to target physical education teachers because we want to make sure that athletes are learning what they’re supposed to be learning. We want to bring to light sports recruitment, explain what scouts and recruiters are looking for.”

The symposium is open to coaches, teachers, sports camp counsellors, parents, athletes seeking further development and anybody who has an interest in the sports world and how it can develop.

To learn more and to register visit www.discoverthenextphenom.com and follow them on Facebook @NextPhenom and Twitter @NextPhenom.com