The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas and Cuba have made headlines recently on the political front, but the governments of both countries have agreed to a joint venture to mutually benefit the development of both sporting programmes.

A group of Bahamian officials travelled to Cuba in September to open discussions and, earlier this week, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson announced the signing of the sports bilateral agreement.

“The agreement means the parties shall work with a view of fostering, promoting and strengthening technical co-operation in the fields of physical education and sports,” Dr Johnson said.

“The parties will contribute to the exchange of delegations, coaches, experts and specialists, the participation of professors and specialists in seminars, courses and scientific lectures organised in both countries.”

It is aimed at creating a vibrant network between the two countries aimed at enhancing sports and education.

“This signing is the beginning of something huge for us in the Bahamas. We can’t say enough to emphasise how important this co-operation agreement will be for the youth of our country,” Dr Johnson said.

“Their (the Cubans) sense of fundamental training, with equal emphasis on sports development and academics, has been astounding. It is wholesome and geared to provide the best possible opportunities for development in sports and education.”

Dr Johnson said the benefits of the initiative will include all sports in the Bahamas and the delegation was granted first-hand access to the inner workings of the Cuban Sports Academy.

The delegation included Dr Johnson, Tim Munnings, director of sports, Evon Wisdom, sports director at the Ministry of Education, D’Arcy Rahming, National Sports Academy committee chairman, Fred Sturrup, Sports Academy committee member and Calvin Balfour, acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sports.

His Excellency Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Ernesto Soberon Guzman, also expressed his optimism in the growth of the programme.

“We have planned right now 20 camps between Cuba and the Bahamas, hosted either here or in Cuba. For the teams I think that it would be a great opportunity to develop sports in our two countries,” he said.

“Right now we have two swimming coaches here in Nassau and we hope to increase that number, not just in swimming, but in all sports as the programme continues.

Dr Johnson said the main objectives of the programme are the development of activities such as organisation of programmes, sports medicine, anti-doping control, sports management and sports applied information technology.