The Tribune

THE Bahamas Olympic Committee has been recognised as an official member of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) at a meeting of the FISU governing body in Kazan, Russia, in July.

In FISU, the Bahamas Olympic Committee will function as the National University Sports Federation of the Bahamas, which will be chaired by Wellington Miller with Romell Knowles as secretary general and will now represent all interests of FISU in the Bahamas.

The National University Sports Federation of the Bahamas becomes the only body affiliated to FISU representing University Sports in the Bahamas.

Miller, who is also president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, noted that the move would further facilitate the exposure of Bahamian university sportsmen and women in the world of international university sporting competition.

Knowles, the secretary general of the Bahamas Olympic Committee who also serves as the National University Sports Federation of the Bahamas secretary general, said that the move will give colleges here the opportunity to promote fitness, athletics and competitive sport to enhance the experience of their student body. The College of the Bahamas already participates in University Games internationally and the new federation will meet with other eligible educational facilities in the Bahamas to encourage them to add sports to their curriculum.

FISU stages the International University Games, known as ‘Universiade’ - an international sporting and cultural festival every two years in a different city – and has often been attended by national swim teams from the Bahamas.

Also part of the FISU family of Games is the World University Championships. Alternating with the summer and winter Universiades, they are organised every even-numbered year.

The Bahamas Olympic Committee through the National University Sports Federation of the Bahamas represents all Bahamian university athletes.