Ten of the 12 core sports in the National Sports Academy will benefit from a donation of $500,000 courtesy of a collective effort from the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport.
Earmarked as part of an effort between the two sport administrative bodies to improve the quality of the National Sports Academy, the $500,000 donation is part of a financial assistance package for the acquisition of equipment in the respective disciplines.
The idea of the financial assistance package is the brainchild of Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport Charles Ramson Jr.
It is the first of its kind in local history and will target the disciplines of athletics, badminton, basketball, hockey, lawn tennis, rugby, squash, swimming, table tennis, and volleyball.
Traditional sports, cricket and football, were not recipients of the grant due to the fact that they are beneficiaries of annual financial support from their respective global and regional governing bodies (CWI and ICC, cricket; FIFA and Concacaf, football).
Commenting on the donation, Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle highlighted, “This initiative is a novel approach to the development of sports and is the brainchild of the honourable Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sport Charles Ramson Jr. It is a direct consequence and result of the discourse between the associations of the core sports and the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport and the National Sports Commission and highlights the importance of communication, cooperation, and collaboration between sports organisations and government agencies and bodies. This programme illustrates that the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport and the National Sports Commission understand what is required in the developmental process and are committed to ensuring that sports continue their upward trajectory and growth.”
Ninvalle concluded, “The associations are very supportive of this gesture and welcome this initiative, which will certainly improve and evolve in the future. By the same token, additional assistance and collaborations between the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, the National Sports Commission, and the sports fraternity will be a recurring theme as we strive to enhance our sporting culture and landscape.”
