The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHEN the Bahamas Olympic Association (BOA) goes to the polls on Thursday night to elect a new administration, former Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) president Mike Sands will be challenging incumbent BOC president Wellington Miller for the top spot.

While the nominations for the elections are to be held during the BOC's annual general meeting at the Paul Farquarson's Auditorium at the Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters, the BOC has not released the candidates who were vying for the positions, including president, six vice presidents, secretary general and assistant and treasurer and assistant.

However, Sands said he has gotten the endorsement from the Bahamas Swimming Federation and will offer his services and expertise for president because he feels he can make a more meaningful contribution to the landscape of sports in the country.

In making the announcement on Saturday, Sands had the backing of BSF president Algernon Cargill, Bahamas Football Association president Anton Sealey and Bahamas Sailing Association president Lori Lowe, who was all in attendance to offer their support.

"I am confident to know that there is so much work to be done in the BOC that there is a fundamental change that needs to be taken place so that the BOC and its member federations, by extension, can move to higher heights," Sands said.

"So I am appealing to all those federations to look at the record of myself and other persons that will be offering and give us your support through your vote. We support the building of all federations, particularly small federations that needs greater support to grow their sport."

Sands said if elected, he would provide more financial support to those smaller sporting federations so that they grow in their bid to get the recommendation as the bigger sports receive and at the same time, assist in the development of their coaches and administrators.

"There's thousands of dollars, maybe in the millions, that is available to all of the federations through the IOC , through PASO, that at the beginning of each year, every sporting body should be able to be made aware of what is available for them to be able to make a contribution to their respective sports," he charged.

"So it's not a favor that is being given to those federations, it's an entitlement to show and assist in their development. So if those sports are not in a position to provide a strategic plan, with our knowledge and expertise, we would be happy to sit with those sporting federations to develop their strategic plan."

Sands said he's interested in assisting the federations as best as he could with funding so that they can operate their programmes without any hindrances and he hope that he can sensitize the federations to having a vibrant public relations blitz that would ensure that the public is aware of what they are doing.

The AGM will take place as the BOC mourns the death of the late Sir Arlington Butler, who served as president for 40 years. Sands offered his condolences to his family and wish that there won't be any disruption during the elections.

With less than a week to go before the elections, Sands said the current administration has been making calls to their membership asking for their support, but they have not produced any strategic plans for the next four years.

But he noted that he's sat with the federations and was able to provide with his strategic plan and he's confident that they will give him a chance to help.

However, Sands said he's not going into the election with a slate of officers, but there are persons who are willing to work along with him.

"There's something about slates. Slates have a tendency of getting people in that ought not be there and those who should not be there, don't get in. Sometimes it happens on a popularity contest," he said.

"But I am fortunate and satisfied to know that there are a number of persons whom I have been talking too, who have supported my nomination and like mind want to see a change, so we have been working collaborative together and they have made their nominations for certain positions."