The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

IT was back in May, more specifically a string of days running from the end of May into the start of June when I first thought to myself that the development of local sports and athletes were suffering as a result of limited funding.

Fast forward just slightly, despite Shaunae Miller’s tremendous performance to capture her first Olympic gold medal in Rio earlier this week, Team Bahamas has underperformed in Rio.

Yes, I like you am overjoyed at Shaunae’s feat but I have to be honest, so much more was possible.

Now, I can entertain arguments that poor decisions by coaches, attitudes of athletes, injuries and fatigue from long seasons all contributed to a lacklustre performance by the country’s 32-member contingent that travelled to Rio.

Fine, I will accept all of those assertions, but I respect them as fact.

The biggest issues plaguing this incarnation of Team Bahamas is the same issue plaguing all other sports in the Bahamas - funding.

Not to be overtly critical because I do understand the government’s fiscal plight, but Mr Christie in his 2016-17 Budget Communication waffled through his plans to build a modern Bahamas through sports.

Attempting to wow the country with his plans to formalise a number of national sporting projects such as the construction of the new Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium, a $10 million equestrian centere and a $20 million Sports Academy through the Tavistock Group’s Albany Resort, an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Golf Course on the Cotton Bay property in Eleuthera, Mr Christie played the ultimate political card by never offering a clear and distinct number that was to be invested into sport.

Nearly two months after these and other grandiose plans were made, the Bahamas is still going through the motions of average sporting success.

I’ve finally arrived at my wit’s end with this ordeal.

From the standpoint of an objective viewer, the 2016 sporting year has been a glorious one for the Bahamas. Look at the tale of the tape, from Buddy Hield’s meteoric rise up the basketball charts to Emily Morley’s inspiring rowing performance down in Brazil - like I said, 2016 has been good to the Bahamas.

However, en lieu of these "high points," I have to consider just how much of a sporting power we can be in years to come and how we can get there financially. Believe it or not, there is a price to every Olympic medal and every NBA or WNBA superstar a country can produce.

Look at Jamaica for example. In 1995, the country established its Sports Development Foundation.

The organisation was established as an independent body to contribute to the development of the nation through sports.

The beauty of this programme should stand as a map form for the Bahamas. Jamaica’s Sports Development Foundation doesn't rely on government funding.

The system in the project identifies, develops and promotes athletes that have the potential to be world-class.

What does that mean exactly? Consider an intake number of 6,000 students into the Bahamas' primary school system.

By the fourth grade, our system should be able to gauge the athletic performance of each of those 6,000 students.

By the seventh grade, the system should have identified the best of the lot. Moving the concept further, by the 12th grade the country should have a qualified junior athlete ready to be promoted to an external tertiary institution if world-class facilities aren't available within its borders.

That is the driving force of a Sports Development Foundation.

Meanwhile in the Bahamas, there is a system of young athletes struggling to make it on their own or with the help of individual coaches. Where is the system of excellence?

Jamaica's Sports Development Foundation has spurred so much success that nearly 20 years ago, the country started to set up for-profit track and field clubs for junior athletes.

Presently, these clubs are able to privately train and develop young athletes.

Again, where is the Bahamas' system of excellence?