The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

btubbs@tribunemedia.net

WHAT’S the national sport of the Bahamas?

While there isn’t one officially on record, the government is set to make an announcement that sloop sailing will be given that title.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg confirmed on Monday as his ministry launched the sixth Bahamas Games as a part of the country’s Golden 50th anniversary of independence, a collaboration is being made with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Family Island Affairs on the announcement of the national sport in short order.

Mr Bowleg revealed that plans are currently underway to make the announcement, but he would rather wait for the appropriate time with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Family Island Affairs, which is responsible for all regattas in the country.

“We’ve had collaboration, myself and the Minister of Agriculture and we have a date in mind when we will make the announcement, but I wouldn’t want to say that,” he said. “It will be done within this year.”

When asked why sailing, Mr Bowleg asked what other sport should be considered.

“There is no sport in the world that is more indigenous to us than sailing,” Mr Bowleg said.

“Track and field is not ours, basketball ain’t ours, bowling isn’t ours, golf ain’t ours.

“But the only thing that is indigenous to the Bahamas when you think about it is sloop sailing. We are an archipelago surrounded by water and so we can’t find anything better that is our own than sloop sailing.”

In congratulating the Nassau Rowing Club’s team of Breanna Gayla, Jessica Profitt, Poppy Profitt and Leah Bethel, who placed third in the Miami International Regatta over the weekend, Bowleg noted that the sport has a lot of diamonds in the rough that need to be polished.