The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL significant initiatives took centre stage for Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard, as he addressed the impact his ministry will have on his administration's budget.

In his contribution to the 2017/18 Budget Debate yesterday, Pintard addressed several issues in the local sporting community which will be affected by the budget, most notably the improvement to infrastructure and seeking new revenue sources to assist the continued developments of sports tourism.

He noted the government has invested millions in hosting marquee international events, however, he insisted that the current model must change and alternative funding sources must be utilised to defray cost. "We have over the course of the last year had two of the largest sporting federations in the world come to the Bahamas to compete - the IAAF and of course FIFA. We have contributed a tremendous amount of money as a government to these games - $7.6 million to the IAAF and we believe that the World Relays was a magnificent event.

"We also believe that the FIFA event was a wonderful event, $5.8 million. At a later date, we will offer deeper analysis and critique of those figures and what we got in return. While we celebrate the fact that the country has this place on the global stage, we know we can do better. This year focus will be not merely to provide government funding for international events as we are now expected to do and will continue. With the Commonwealth Youth Games what comes up in a very short time, the government has committed again, more than $7 million to this enterprise," Pintard said.

"The time has come for the Department of Sports along with the Ministry of Tourism, to reach out both nationally and internationally and to work with our federations so that we attract millions of dollars to help us to defray the cost of these international events. We have not sufficiently, in the Bahamas, taken advantage of television rights, of merchandising rights. We have to move away from the government being the sole funder of these events, it is not a sustainable option for a country of this size with our budget.

"The ministry with responsibility for staff understands it, the federations we have met with, we have shared this message as well, and so toward this end we expect over the course of this calendar year to work with persons of the financial services community, local and internationally, so that we are able to design a strategic plan to attract the millions of dollars we know are available and willing to come to the Bahamas if we are minded and ingenious enough, creative enough to reach out and make the case that this is a good place to invest."

With respect to the country's sports tourism product, the Member of Parliament for Marco City called for a more symbiotic relationship between hosting international events and the development of local sports.

"The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry with responsibility for sports will work in tandem with each other to ensure that two things happen: One - that we attract the international events, either amateur or professional but at the same time we do not disadvantage national sports," he said, "It is a tension that exists in the country, there is view that local athletics scarcely benefit from the international events that come to the Bahamas. We will make sure that the connection between the two is clear, whether it is through scholarships opportunities, exchange programmes, coaching opportunities or further certifications or attracting many of the sponsors that assist those things. My colleagues at the Ministry of Tourism and I will no doubt be collaborating very closely and demonstrating a commitment to make this a reality."

He outlined government expenditure in recent years, which included upgrades to the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre, facilitated by the National Sports Authority.

"The NSA has been spearheading an effort to upgrade our facilities and we have seen steady progress. In excess of $10 million have been spent to improve sports facilities, however, the one component of the NSA that has not been fully activated, if at all, is the sports fund. The role of the sports fund is to prove resources to do much of what central government still has the burden to do every day, every year. It is our intention in looking at new board for the NSA is to retain talent, introduce new talent to supplement in order for us to be entrepreneurially minded as we proceed in raising fund to energise sports even more so in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas," Pintard said, "The Kendal G.L. Isaacs Gymnasium has upgraded with a new floor, lighting, and AC to the tune of some $400,000. The Thomas A Robinson stadium has been refurbished to the tune of $1.2 million, the construction of a new 6.5-acre multi-use facility to the tune of $700,000. There is a long list of upgrades that have taken place with the corresponding figures. I believe it appropriate, as we are new in these positions to say, we have been advised that all of the previous figures have been used to do exactly what was stated. Of course, within the next month or so whether it is related to the NSA or any aspect of governance will have the benefit of the auditor general and a team of forensic auditors to determine how the people's money has been spent."

Pintard gave assurances to various sporting federations that despite the recent upgrades to facilities, no organization will be prohibited from their use once the protocol is followed.

The Ministry Over the past year has spent a tremendous amount of money upgrading sporting complex at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre. We have provided through subvention 1.4 million to many of our athletes, but the big-ticket item has been providing far more in upgrading the facilities that will give them an opportunity to come home and train in world-class facilities," he said, "I wish to assure all of the federations and associations that we will make sure that you are not disadvantaged by any person, or any aspect of the Ministry or any authorities that may be set up. We are confident that the National Sports Authority will function in a manner that is beneficial to the upkeep and further development of the facilities, while at the same time making available at cost effective rate for all of our federations to practice and to function. You will not be disadvantaged any longer as federations and associations with any sporting facility controlled directly or indirectly by the Ministry responsible for Youth, Sports and Culture."