Nassau (Bahamas), Sep 16 (IANS/CMC): Seven sporting associations in the Bahamas will be given with development grants aimed at propelling them toward Olympic status and qualification.
The provisions, according to president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) Wellington Miller, were based on the recent success and growth in programmes by the federations, reports CMC.
The grants were awarded to the Bahamas Volleyball Federation (BVF), the Bahamas Judo Federation (BJF), the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA), the Bahamas Rugby and Football Union (BRFU), the Bahamas Cycling Federation (BCF), the Amateur Boxing Federation of The Bahamas (ABFB) and the Bahamas Wrestling Federation (BWF).
"We are pleased with the recent success of the Bahamas Volleyball Federation’s junior and senior men’s teams in regional competition in St.Martin and Guadeloupe,” said Miller.
“As a result of the volleyball federation’s success, the Bahamas Olympic Committee, through its partner Olympic Solidarity, is pleased to provide a team assistance grant of $60,000. Similarly, our young tennis players have performed remarkably well in international competition, resulting in the Bahamas Olympic Committee, through Olympic Solidarity, providing a coach’s development grant for level one courses of $9,000 to tennis. This grant can be expanded up to $12,000.”
The BOC is hoping to strengthen its relationship with the Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF), making the necessary provisions for them to educate more coaches, and players “before they step onto the court”.
Miller believes that the new partnership with the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO) will make it easier for the BOC to assist federations with hosting international coaching clinics and courses.
“The Bahamas Olympic Committee welcomes the introduction of new Olympic sports to the sports calendar in The Bahamas. We welcome sports such as rowing, handball, fencing, horsemanship, badminton and archery. Through the International Fencing Federation, we have been able to provide the local fencing federation with equipment,” he said.