NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Seven sporting associations in the Bahamas will be awarded with development grants, designed to propel them toward Olympic status and qualification.
The provisions, according to president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) Wellington Miller, were based on the recent success and growth in programmes by the federations.
The grants were awarded to the Bahamas Volleyball Federation (BVF), the Bahamas Judo Federation (BJF), the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA), the Bahamas Rugby and Football Union (BRFU), the Bahamas Cycling Federation (BCF), the Amateur Boxing Federation of The Bahamas (ABFB) and the Bahamas Wrestling Federation (BWF).
“We are pleased with the recent success of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation’s junior and senior men’s teams in regional competition in St. Martin and Guadeloupe,” said Miller.
“As a result of the volleyball federation’s success, the Bahamas Olympic Committee, through its partner Olympic Solidarity, is pleased to provide a team assistance grant of US$60,000. Similarly, our young tennis players have performed remarkably well in international competition, resulting in the Bahamas Olympic Committee, through Olympic Solidarity, providing a coach’s development grant for level one courses of US$9,000 to tennis. This grant can be expanded up to US$12,000.”
The BOC is hoping to strengthen its relationship with the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF), making the necessary provisions for them to educate more coaches, and players “before they step onto the court”.
Miller believes that the new partnership with the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO) will make it easier for the BOC to assist federations with hosting international coaching clinics and courses.
“The Bahamas Olympic Committee has partnered with the Pan American Sports Organisation to offer international coaches courses in the sports of weightlifting, handball and very soon horsemanship,” said Miller.
“We are pleased that the Bahamas Powerlifting and Weightlifting Federation have been energised by its new president, Robert ‘Bob’ Brown.
He is committed to ensuring that his athletes compete in the Olympic sport of weightlifting. We welcome this initiative in weightlifting and we will do all we can to support Mr Brown’s transition from powerlifting to Olympic weightlifting,” he said.
