The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

NATIONAL Sports Heritage month will bridge the gap between generations, honouring the country’s local sporting heroes both past and present.

The theme for this year’s celebrations are “Chasing Dreams and Achieving Excellence.”

Said Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg: “It is during this month that my ministry recognises the many outstanding contributions of athletes of today and heroes of yesterday.”

Active athletes expected to be honoured will include Miami Marlins’ infielder Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Mike Strachan, Charlotte Hornets forward Kai Jones, Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield, Phoenix Suns centre Deandre Ayton, Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones, and sprinters Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

The month also traditionally includes the new inductees to the National Sports Hall of Fame. The 2021 class will include Laverne Eve, Oral Hudson, Joe Demeritte, William Thompson, Charles Thompshon, Stella Knowles, Gena Mackey, Nell Wildgoode- Russell, Sheila Culmer, Bert Bell (posthumously) and Barbara Thompson (posthumously).

Sports Heritage Month is recognised as a time period reserved for the celebration, promotion and awareness of activities designed to showcase the contributions of sports to the national development of The Bahamas.

It is also a time to reflect the unity of the Bahamian sporting community, exhibit the value of sports disciplines to the overall development of our people, and to congratulate the outstanding performances of Bahamian athletes hailing from all islands of The Bahamas.

In his first address to the House of Assembly as Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Bowleg outlined how the celebration of Sports Heritage month is just one of the areas the government expects to improve the country’s overall development of sports.