The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Washington Redskins will be the latest professional sports team to be making their way to the Bahamas in 2017 when former National Football League MVP quarterback Doug Williams headlines a Celebrity Weekend in May.

According to Jeff Rodgers, who is responsible for the Ministry of Tourism’s promotion of sports in Washington DC, Williams is eager to showcase the Redskins’ organisation as a part of the festivities.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Redskins camp held a joint press conference on Monday to make the official announcement.

The three-day event from May 18-20 will include a golf tournament, a dinner cruise and a flag football camp for close to 500 youngsters.

“We are looking at doing something that Dan Marino has done with the Miami Dolphins there in the Bahamas,” Rodgers said. “This one is going to be special because we will have a NFL Super Bowl MVP headlining the show.”

During the camp, the 61-year-old Williams, who was the first starting African-American quarterback in the NFL, will talk about his success in the league after he got drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round as the 17th pick overall in 1978.

 Williams is best known for his remarkable performance in Super Bowl XXII in 1988 when Williams was named the MVP after he passed for a Super Bowl record 340 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.

He also became the first player in Super Bowl history to pass for four touchdowns in a single quarter, and four in a half.

Rodgers said as a part of his responsibility in Washington, he also tries to find ways to get people to come to the Bahamas and put on sporting activities.

“This is just a part of my responsibility working in sports tourism in the Ministry of Tourism,” Rodgers said.

“I’m very proud of the relationship that we have developed with the Redskins and now to have to forge a relationship with Doug Williams.

“When he comes to town next week, he is expected to bring in at least five players from the Redskins to assist him in the football camp. But of course there will be a lot of other celebrities who will be coming here to be a part of the week of activities.”

Additionally, some of Williams’ teammates from the Super Bowl team are expected to accompany him along with some of the top brass in the organisation.

While the camp is expected to become an annual event, the Redskins are hoping to hold their corporate staff meeting in the Bahamas in 2017.

Redskins’ owner Daniel Snyder, who owns a home in Lyford Cay, flew down “a plane full” of supplies that included batteries, bottled water, Cliff Bars and palettes of other non-perishable food to assist the Bahamas immediately after the passing of Hurricane Matthew.