NASSAU, Bahamas — Following up on a commitment made for the staging of the 50th version of the CARIFTA Games to coincide with The Bahamas’ 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations, among other projects next year, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said in his Budget Communication in the House of Assembly on Wednesday that the funds have been allotted in that regard in this budget cycle, The Nassau Guardian reported on Thursday, May 26, in an article written by Sheldon Longley.
Also promised for 2023 is a return of the World Athletics (WA) World Relay Championships to The Bahamas and the rebirth of the Bahamas Games.
Prime Minister Davis said there is a $1 million allocation to facilitate the hosting of CARIFTA, funding for a bid to again host the world relays, funding to support the return of the Bahamas Games, and a 10 percent increase in grants for the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.
The 2022/2023 fiscal year for the budget runs from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
“We have already relaunched our ‘Sports in Paradise’ initiative to diversify our tourism product, and have already secured a pipeline of sporting events,” said the prime minister. “In our ‘Blueprint For Change’, we detailed a number of initiatives which will expand opportunities for Bahamians, especially in the Orange, Green and Blue Economies. Our athletes have contributed so much to The Bahamas. Their successes inspire our student-athletes at home and promote our country on the international stage. “Recognizing this, we have restored the funding to the Elite Athletes Program as part of our effort to enhance support for our athletes and sporting programs.”
In an attempt to return to the glory days of junior regional athletics, when The Bahamas won four CARIFTA Championships in a five-year period, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) committed to a revamped national effort in preparation for next year’s meet at home, and also charged local coaches to intensify their training programs and talent search vehicles.
In 2023, The Bahamas is set to host CARIFTA track and field for a record ninth time. The country also hosted the junior regional athletics competition in 1976, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1992, 2002, 2013 and 2018.
Prime Minister Davis said his government wants to ensure that The Bahamas is used as a jurisdiction to host athletic events – not just the CARIFTA Games, but other international sporting events in the future as well.” See complete article in The Nassau Guardian at https://thenassauguardian.com/pm-vows-budget-boost-for-sports/
