Can National Sports Summit Promises Deliver Serious Results?

For years, Belize’s sporting community has called for more funding, stronger leadership and a unified plan. This week, those voices finally came together at the country’s first National Sports Summit. Athletes, federations, government officials and international experts confronted the challenges holding local sports back and explored practical ways to move the sector forward. Now that the talks are over, the real work begins. Stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the ideas will translate into action or become another set of promises. But Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association President Allan Sharp says the energy surrounding the summit offers fresh hope that Belize may finally be building a serious national plan for sports.

 

Allan Sharp, President, Belize Olympic & Commonwealth Games Association

“Not only did he have a summit, it’s the way the summit has been presented. It’s  a world-class venue inside. The people, we have international speakers that have come in. You have speakers that are local that are at the top of their, what they do. So, you know, it’s been very good, very interesting. I’ve not heard a single person complain about any of the topics the topics being covered. A lot of information. A lot of agreement. Mind you there, you’re preaching to the choir, but I think we’re noticing it’s being verbalized. The gaps are being verbalized. The solutions are being verbalized. And as Marianne Jones mentioned, as the minister mentioned, as the minister of state mentioned, I think everybody has mentioned we now have to go beyond the talk. Now it’s going to be up to the national federations and, and, and everybody to hold- To make sure that the government goes forward and executes it, I see a great willingness to execute. I see a great willingness to execute it and quick to try and get it established very fast. So this is the first of its kind that I know about for Belize and at this level, and I think this will definitely bring out a lot of good things, including a concrete plan.”

 

Among the summit’s high-profile guests were PanAm Sports Secretary General Jimena Saldaña and former Olympian Marion Jones.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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