The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WELLINGTON Miller, president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, has been given some extra responsibilities as a member of the Technical Commission of the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO).

PASO is the international organisation which represents all National Olympic Committees of the Americas. It is part of the worldwide Olympic family of sporting organisations charged with maintaining alliances with the international and Pan American confederations to raise the level of sports in the broad American continent.

As the first Bahamian to be appointed to such a board, Miller's role took effect on Monday and he will sit on a five-member panel for the next four years as they plan all of the programmes for the Pan Am Games and any new games that PASO intends to initiate for their 41-member countries.

"For me and the Bahamas, it's a great thing because we can show people that we are just as good on the sports field as we are in the boardroom," Miller said. "Being on PASO Technical Commission, I get to sit in the heart of the organisation that actually runs the games.

"I've been asked to serve on the Commission by the president and I think it's a great honour for me, the country and sports because I can give guidance on how the games should be ran. It's a very prestigious position and I look forward to working with the other members."

With the Bahamas getting ready to host the Commonwealth Youth Games next month, Miller said PASO, which is responsible primarily for the Pan American Games, is looking at the possibility of hosting a Youth Pan Am Games and it is hoped that the Bahamas will be able to make a bid when it goes to tender.

"The outside world is now looking to the Bahamas, not only for athletes, but they are looking to the Bahamas for administrators too," Miller said. "I'm happy that they have chosen me. "I will do my best to serve to the best of my ability and make sure that I leave an indelible mark so that when other countries look for persons to be on their committees, they can look and see that the Bahamas is not just a country on the field of play, but we are good at administration too."

Once he's done, Miller said he hope to leave a good track record and they can also come back and look for others to follow in his footsteps.

"I'm looking forward to the day that we can expand our talent to run games all around the world," Miller projected. "The Commonwealth Youth Games will pave the way for us to take on other prestigious events because of what we expect to put on.

"From these games, we know that we will have people coming to the Bahamas looking for administrators so it's going to be important for us to put on a very successful Commonwealth Youth Games and we are confident that we can do that."

The PASO Technical Commission will meet in Miami, Florida during the second week of June.

Among the relevant topics for discussion are new multisport events that will support and develop the new generations of athletes and the definition of sports and technical programs of the Pan American Games and other future events.