The Tribune

THE government is looking to partner with the Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation as both organisations seek to raise awareness of health and wellness issues in the country.

As the BBFF officially announced the upcoming 45th edition of its nationals, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard indicated how the collaboration is expected to operate.

“The MYSC’s sports platform has six pillars, several relate to what will be happening this weekend, and we encourage the public to come out and support. We believe that it is possible for sports to play a key role in fighting obesity and non-communicable diseases in the Bahamas.

The BBFF will play a pivotal role going forward partnering with the Ministries of Sports and Health. As the public might be aware the Minister of Health and myself engaged in the Prime Minister’s ‘Over-The-Hill’ project and a part of what we seek to do is to create recreational green spaces where persons can not only relax and gather but they can also exercise. In that regard we make a commitment to the federation directly or to members of the federation to lead a national fitness programme and collaborate with the ministries in this regard,” Pintard said.

“Far too many citizens are dying of non-communicable diseases fueled by obesity. One of the pillars is to use sports as a character development tool – good sportsmanship, competing clean, perseverance and determination – all of these are attributes that these incredible athletes demonstrate. So, they are wonderful spokespersons that the ministry will continue pushing, so I want to say congratulations to you and to challenge to take us up on the offer to partner with you and to provide additional subvention, whether to an individual or to the federation so that we can help save the lives of more of our citizens.”

BBFF executive Nardo Dean said the federation will make attempts to reach out to the community this weekend as several civic groups will be invited to the prejudging at nationals, including Teen Challenge, Binley Home, Elizabeth Estate Home for Children, the Simpson Penn School for Boys, Willamae Pratt School for Girls and Nathan’s Group.

“It’s a great opportunity for the federation to get involved on this level. We have reached out to the organsations that have kids that need to start a wellness programme and have extended an invite to them,” Dean said. “We plan to get out into the society and make ourselves even more available. Not only to the schools and civic organisations, but to churches, business as well as community groups. In the aforementioned ‘Over-The-Hill’ project, we can go into communities wherever they have fairs, cookouts or shows, we can show up at that particular venue – whether they have exercise equipment like at the Sir Charles Carter park in Sea Breeze or it is just an open field. We can be creative but the most important thing is getting persons to participate and giving them the avenue and benefits of knowing what health, fitness, and dieting can have on their lives.”

The BBFF will also recognise May as the Health and Fitness month by hosting its first fundraiser for the year.

“This year we have invited quite a bit of charities to our pre-judging as a way of giving back to the community and also to entice those young folks to get involved, not just in bodybuilding but in health and fitness areas of life,” said Stephen Robinson, BBFF secretary and public relations officer. “Our federation is recognising May as health and fitness month and to that end, we will embark on our first ever family fun walk, May 26 at 6am. The route starts at Rawson Square and will finish at the Shirley St Shopping Plaza at Better Bodies where we will have a post-race morning boil. Of course, we will be serving a healthy breakfast to keep in line with the theme of family, fun and fitness. It is also a fundraiser to assist our national teams travelling to the CAC games.”

BBFF president Joel Stubbs said the athletes within the organisation will continue their efforts of creating a healthier Bahamas. “We are more than just bodybuilding and fitness,” he said. “We have quite a bit of athletes that are trained and are capable and certified to host seminars at different businesses to speak on health and nutrition and just lend the information to create a healthier Bahamas.”