The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) looks to extend its focus to the “business of sports” and make its presence felt throughout the Family Islands with a series of new initiatives.

Romell Knowles, secretary general of the BOC, said the organisation will continue to brand the Bahamas through the support of its member federations.

“We are aware that sports is big business and the Bahamas is not only the home of sun, sand and sea but we are also the home of sports. We will endeavour with our stakeholders to brand the Bahamas as the home of sports, sun, sand and sea. Not only are we in the BOC thinking strategically but we are aware that our role requires that we lead and support our member federations and stakeholders in Olympic sports.”

Knowles said the organisation seeks to shift public perception from a body simply associated with the Olympic Games to one that is in a supportive role to the entire sporting community.

“In our leading and supporting roles we understood that change is required in the culture of our organisation. Therefore, over the coming weeks and months, not only will we be living in accordance with our strategic plan but we will in addition form strategic alliances,” he said. “One of the first of many strategic alliances we wish to announce is the alliance with the Grand Bahama Urban Renewal and the able director, Mrs Michelle Reckley.

“Under the theme, ‘Changing Lives,’ the BOC will cause to bear on the island of Grand Bahama the following activities. Through our partnership with Mr Harrison Petty we will seek to provide scholarships to deserving athletes in Grand Bahama in athletics and will seek to add other sporting disciplines in the shortest possible time.”

They will also seek to work closely with the country’s top tertiary institution to develop a feeder system to produce more elite level athletes.

“Additionally, we have partnered with the College of the Bahamas who will at an appropriate time hold combos in various sporting disciplines with a view of offering scholarships to their prestigious campus,” he said.

“In essence, under our vice president Iram Lewis, the Bahamas Olympic Committee will lead and support a talent identification programme immediately to identify athletes to compete in next year’s Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing China.”

Off-the-field issues, such as education and sport integrity, will also be addressed by the BOC in the near future.

“The BOC, in collaboration with the Department of Youth and its director will host a youth seminar in Grand Bahama under the supervision of vice president, Derron Donaldson. The youth seminar will focus on college preparation, dispute resolution, preparation for competition, the importance of competing clean, just to name a few. Finally, for federation and association members, athletes and the general public, the BOC will host a seminar in corporate governance and leadership in sports,” he said.

The completion of the Thomas A Robinson Stadium and the impending transformation of the 450-acre Queen Elizabeth Sports Complex was one the most discussed focal points in the transition of the business of sport.

Designed to be the state-of-the-art facility in the region, the complex will feature nine venues, including The National Track and Field Stadium, Kendal GL Isaacs Gym, Betty Kelly Kenning Aquatic Centre, a Multi-Purpose Arena, The National Tennis Complex, a Hot Rod Drag Racing Facility, the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium, the Churchill Tener Knowles Softball Complex and Nine-Hole Golf Course Complex.

The complex will also include multi-use office buildings, an athletes village complex, along with parks and public recreational facilities.

Thus far the National Stadium has already hosted the 2013 CARIFTA Games, the Chris Brown Invitational and an exhibition match between the Tottenham Hotspur and Jamaican national soccer team, Reggae Boyz.