The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH a change in portfolio at the new look Ministry of Youth and Sports, Minister Mario Bowleg and a delegation took the week to meet with the sports tourism stakeholders in New York and Miami, Florida.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, now minus Culture which is in the new ministry, has added sports tourism from the Ministry of Tourism and regattas from the Ministry of Works and Local Government.

The changes were made following the general election on May 12 when the Progressive Liberal Party, under Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis, made the necessary changes as Bowleg was returned to serve as the Minister of Youth and Sports.

"Portfolios are designed by the Prime Minister in his bid to make his administration successful," Bowleg said.

"With my expertise in sports and dealing with youth, and now I will get a chance to work with those who were involved in sports tourism to ensure that ‘Sports in Paradise’ continues to excel and brings more heads in bed.

"That, along with the regatta being under my ministry, we will be looking at how we can continue to promote the national sport.

“So we're meeting with the stakeholders in regatta and sailing throughout the country in a conclave soon to discuss the way forward to improving sailing as the national sport and to increase regattas," Minister Bowleg said.

Bowleg said it's only fitting that with sailing being the national sport of The Bahamas, it's where it should be and with sports tourism, they will have the opportunity to look at bringing more international events to the country."

This week, Bowleg and a delegation from his ministry went to New York where they got to watch a Yankees game against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium just before Bahamian MLB sensation Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr was placed on the injured list (sprained right thumb) for 10 days.

"We just met with the Yankees in New York and now we are in Miami where we will be meeting with the Miami Hurricanes and the Miami Heat with Klay Thompson now a part of their organisation.

"We are exploring the opportunities to see how we can get a number of games featuring Bahamian players like Klay Thompson, VJ Edgecombe with the Philadelphia 76ers, Deandre Ayton with the Washington Wizards and Chavano “Buddy” Hield with the Atlanta Hawks to make their games a Bahamian night."

With contracts already intact with these international bodies, Bowleg said he felt it was necessary for them to introduce the new faces that will be involved in the operation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports to continue their agreements.

Bowleg and his delegation should be back home by the weekend.