The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE “Sports In Paradise” initiative took centre stage for Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson as he addressed the impact his ministry will have on his administration’s budget.

In his contribution to the 2016/17 Budget Debate yesterday, Dr Johnson addressed several issues in the local sporting community which will be affected by the budget, most notably, the improvement to infrastructure and the country’s role as an elite sports hosting venue.

He highlighted an allocation of $2 million for facility improvement to upgrade and complete venues around the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre and an additional $1.4 million to the Elite Athlete Subvention Programme.

“My ministry will expand sporting facilities and upgrade them in several areas to make them acceptable to meet international standards, allowing us to continue to attract more events,” Dr Johnson said. “The National Sports Authority, the legislative authority board for the QE Sports Park, will embark on a series of refurbishments to the surrounding venues. The Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium will have a brand new maple floor, which will be completed by this month. There will also be upgraded concession stands, upgraded lighting, new shot clock, upgraded locker rooms, new seating and other amenities. When completed this will raise the standard of our facilities and we will be able to host anything anywhere. The entire area will be more attractive to both local and international patrons.”

 Dr Johnson called 2017 a landmark year in Bahamian sports as the country continues to solidify its position as a regional leader in sports tourism.

“Sports in Paradise is taking great shape and we are becoming the destination of choice,” he said. “We will host the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships next month where two of our local icons of the sport will be honoured.

“We hosted the IAAF World Relays in consecutive years and they will return in 2017. Because of the success of that event, interest in hosting other events have exploded exponentially. We hosted the Chris Brown Invitational, we will host the  Caribbean Island Swimming Championships and Grand Bahama is currently preparing to host International Flag Football World Championships this September. The interest in the Bahamas as a sports destination extends beyond this year. In April 2017 the Bahamas will host the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup which will feature 16 teams playing over 10 days of competition. The Bahamas will be entered as hosts, we think we have a chance to win.”

Another major event added to the calendar for 2017 will be the Commonwealth Youth Games. Last week, the Local Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games Association, along with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology held a press conference to update the plans for the biggest multi-sporting event to be hosted in the Bahamas.

“The Commonwealth Youth Games, the largest sporting event held in the region, will consist of nine sporting events. Shortly thereafter we want to see if we can reintroduce the Bahamas Games in those same nine events. Records already reflect a positive economic impact from the World Relays, and it can easily be projected that these others will surpass the $25 million impact,” Dr Johnson said. “It’s also noteworthy that our ministry has  AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) which makes sure we have a seat at the table where major sports are happening,” he said. “Discussions are underway with MLB and NFL with both entities looking to host events in the Bahamas.

He added the developments must be made if the Bahamas is to continue into the business of sports. “Very few countries can ever say they have the ability to host the LPGA, PGA, FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the IAAF World Relays, along with NCAA sanctioned basketball and football in the same year. You can’t say we are not well on our way as a ministry. We look forward to leading the way in making the Bahamas a leader in Sports in Paradise.”