The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

FOLLOWING their appeal in early August for financial sponsors, the Bahamas Bodybuilding Wellness and Fitness Federation (BBWFF) still lacks adequate funding for travel expenses.

The 14-member team is slated to compete at the 50th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding Championships in Palm Beach, Aruba, in less than three weeks but have hit some obstacles in their preparations for the commute.

Joel Stubbs, president of the BBWFF, talked about the issues they are faced with. “Honestly, we have not gotten the total amount that is needed because our total would have amounted to $25,000 when you consider uniforms, transportation, tickets for the entire team, and hotel rooms with two persons per room for the nights needed in Aruba, we fell short,” Stubbs said.

According to him, the government has provided the federation with $17,000 to date but they are still short on the total amount needed to travel to the CAC Bodybuilding Championships.

The president maintained that he does not want to downsize the team that is capable of bringing back hardware for The Bahamas.

“We are still trying to solicit as best we can among the corporate world in The Bahamas to see if the possibilities are there for a few more dollars. Every little penny would count, we do not want to modify the team because every athlete would have sacrificially prepared themselves and have put in the necessary time and efforts,” he said.

The federation has taken other measures to raise funding, including a fun run, walk but it did not prove to be as successful as hoped. However, the president said they would examine other measures in the future, including car washes, and possibly a boat cruise. “The financial dilemma we deal with each year is a sad place and position until the Ministry of Sports sees our sport as a core sport. I think until that time we will always be placed out of that scope,” the president said.

With the funding that they have received so far the federation is trying to make the best of what they have allocated.

“The monies that were given we are trying to see how best we can purchase tickets that are within a comfortable price. We are looking online and speaking to the travel agencies. We are trying to find a way and means of how we can best travel with the money that we have to get our team down to Aruba,” he said.

The president is confident in the national team’s ability to represent The Bahamas well at the CAC Bodybuilding Championships and made his final appeal to corporate Bahamas ahead of September 21-25.

“I would love to continue to make a financial appeal for persons interested that want to assist the federation in its team travel to Aruba this year and at least give these athletes the opportunity to represent The Bahamas,” he said.

Individuals interested in sponsoring the 14-member team’s trip can contact 376-2121 or email bbff.242@gmail.com