EDITOR, The Tribune.
What’s the national sport of The Bahamas? - Tribune Wednesday, 6th April.
I don’t know Minister Mario Bowleg, and I truly hope that the narrowness of his announcement on our National Sport of being Sloop Sailing, is simply due to him being unaware of any other kind of sailing that takes place in the Bahamas. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Family Island Affairs is very much aware and very supportive of all sailing in the Bahamas, and while sloop sailing is one small sector of Bahamian Sailing, there are many other sectors, or Classes, that are of equal importance, including the Star Class for which the Bahamas received its first ever Olympic Gold Medal in 1964.
The Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA) has been running Junior Sailing Programmes for many years, during which time some 300 students from 40 Government Schools in Nassau and the Out Islands have been able to learn to sail. And the BSA has raised the money from the business community and others to sponsor them. In the last several years, the class of boat that they have learned to sail in has been either the OPTIMIST dinghy or the SUNFISH and more recently the LASER and LASER RADIAL. And these are sailing classes that are internationally recognised for competitive sailing.
Hopefully the Regatta Desk at the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Family Island Affairs, will be able to clarify this and drop any adjectives from the word SAILING for the National Sport of the Bahamas.
BRUCE G RAINE
Nassau,
April 7, 2022.
Comments
sheeprunner12 2 years ago
What makes a national sport, national???
The mere fact that MOST people can play, enjoy, or participate in it AND embrace it as part of the national cultural psyche that appeals to both rich or poor, black or white ......... Can any 242 sport fill that criteria?????
Raine, be honest about which form of sailing can do that OR think of another sport that has that national appeal.
ThisIsOurs 2 years ago
The national sport is the sport that underprivileged children play using improvised tools. In many cases it is the sport from which a country develops its sporting greats. Sports "Development" is another topic altogether. Sailing is a good sports development candidate. The question we have to ask is, as much as we tout how it's such a part of us, why don't we dominate in the world, with any adjective you want to put in front of it? And I mean that in a positive way. The answer to that is the path to development.
hrysippus 2 years ago
The real national sport in this Bahamas, . ... ....Is ducking payments to our baby mamas,.......... .. ...And ending up in the family court, .. ...Where non existent funds are sought, ,,,,,Because baby daddy has no work,,... .... ..And, truth be told ,he's a bit of a jerk, .. .. .. And any money he makes from selling weed, ... .... Is money the gambling house will need, ... ... .. And most of the rest to the liquor store...... ... .. .Cheap brandy leaving head so sore... ... ... ..That next gal don't remember right. ..... .. Jus exact what she did last night... .. ...But one thing that is a sure win, ... ...... ...That this is how the unwed mama begin.......
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