The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

MINISTER of Youth, Sports, and Culture Mario Bowleg expressed his excitement to see contact sports finally back on the move in the northern Bahamas.

The minister was in Grand Bahama attending the opening of the 1st annual IL Cares Grand Bahama Secondary Schools Basketball Challenge at the St George’s gymnasium yesterday.

The tournament is only open to vaccinated players, and school fans and parents will watch it virtually via live stream.

Minister Bowleg reported that 70 percent of the athletes participating in the various schools are fully vaccinated.

“It is a privilege to be here to see sports finally getting back to some sort of normalcy,” he said. “As you know, the pandemic has put a damper on sports in the country. The athletes here on GB in the sport of basketball, about 70 percent participating in the various schools, are fully vaccinated and would have met the qualifying marks as it relates to the Ministry of Health protocols. The MYSC supports this and encourages all to go and be vaccinated.”

“We know it is a personal thing and it is not mandated by this government, but we ask you to please go and be vaccinated as a fourth wave is on the way. But, sports is back on the move, and I am proud to know that in the north, we started to get contact sports back moving,” he said.

Minister Bowleg commended the organisers, the Ministry of Education, and IL Cares for supporting Grand Bahama’s youth. In the Bahamas, he stated that the government is finalising protocols for some sporting disciplines, especially when it comes to contact sports.

“The non-contact sports we see no reason why they won’t be able to play come next year,” Minister Bowleg said.

The minister stressed that Bahamians, including athletes, must follow the protocols.

He said that the rules and regulations are to ensure the protection and safeguard Bahamians against the coronavirus.

“We know there is a fourth wave on its way. It is in the United States, and we are right next door. Again, I encourage persons to go and get vaccinated,” he said.

He urged parents to safeguard their children. “The mere fact that most of the youths in GB are vaccinated is not because of the schools. It is because the parents made that decision, and I encourage all parents throughout the Bahamas to safeguard their kids and themselves.”

“It is a personal thing, but it gives you a greater chance of surviving. None of us know when we will come in contact with this virus, but the chances of survival are greater once we take this vaccination.”

Minister Bowleg indicated that in January and February, the country should see more activities of the non-contact sporting disciplines, such as baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, golf and tennis.

However, he stated that for contact sports like basketball, protocols will be more stringent.

Davina Rutherford, IL Cares representative, said they are proud to be partners in the tournament providing kids the opportunity to compete and be active. “The children of Grand Bahama have been through a tough time from Dorian to COVID, and so we are happy to give back tangibly. It is always our goal to impact the community in ways that would make a difference.”

Norris Bain, the tournament organiser, said the tournament is being held in the safest possible manner for athletes on GB.

“We are pleased about the support from the MOE, MYSC, and also the support received from Minister of Health and Wellness Michael Darville,” he said.

Mr Bain said that safety protocols are in place, including temperature checks and sanitisation.

“We are not allowing any fans into the gymnasium, only the players,” he said.

According to Mr Bain, all schools were provided a link for the live stream to view the games from 4pm through 7:30pm.