The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

RIO de Janeiro, Brazil — Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson has been moving around checking out the various venues at the 2016 Olympic Games and from what he’s seen, he said he’s confident that the Bahamas will be ready to host the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games.

“It’s been fantastic. We want to say hats off to the Brazilians for what they’ve done, transforming their city and presenting it to the world and what the athletes are doing. Really, hats off to Team Bahamas, who is showing up in fine form. Everyone is here enjoying themselves.”

As he watched Emily Morley make history as the first Bahamian to participate in rowing, Johnson said he’s sitting on a beautiful lake on the inland of the city of Rio de Janeiro thinking about some of the interesting things that could be done in Nassau harbour.

“The water is incredible that we have in the Bahamas and we have to think about ways that we can improve and send our product to the world,” said Johnson, who noted that the Commonwealth Youth Games in July will provide just that opportunity for the Bahamas.

“This is like Lake Killarney coming to life. We have kids in the Bahamas who can do this. This is a sport we feel we can get more people to do. So we are just proud to be Bahamians out here watching her doing us proud.”

Watching Morley in action, Johnson said he has noticed how so many countries are now copying the Bahamas in the colours they are wearing. He was especially pleased to see the aquamarine, gold and black on the Parade of Athletes during the march pass at the opening ceremonies on Friday night.

“I saw some colours that looked like the Bahamas out in front,” he said. “So I had that feeling again.”

Johnson, who is being accompanied by Timothy Munnings, the Director of Sports, said he was pleased to see Morley get the Bahamas going in another non- traditional sport and although she didn’t finish in contention, he’s looking for her to improve on her performance when she comes back for the Repechage, a contest in which the best-placed of those who failed to win heats compete for a place in the final.

“She’s here competing for the first time in rowing for the Bahamas and I believe she should be congratulated,” Johnson said.

Although he heard “all the noise in the market” about the Brazilians not being ready to host the games, Johnson said God has indeed blessed them because they need the economic infusion in a time of political unrest.

“This is sort to bring the whole nation together,” said Johnson, who was stunned to see the more than 70,000 armed forces out in action. “It’s wonderful that they are having this event at this time of the year. It’s their winter, which is more like our winter, a little warm in the day, but cool in the night. The cooler temperature sent the mosquito-mating season away, so you won’t find as many mosquitos in this kind of weather. And there’s no rain, so you won’t find as much mosquitos as you would find in the rain. So we got a break from that.”

Before he leaves, Johnson said he intends to take advantage of as many sporting events, including the Rugby Sevens, which he used to play.

But he noted that wherever a Bahamian is competing, he will be rooting for the Bahamas.