PanAm Sports Partnership Could Elevate Belizean Athletes

Belize’s first National Sports Summit is already opening doors beyond the conference room. PanAm Sports Secretary General Jimena Saldaña, one of the world’s leading sports executives, spent two days meeting with government officials, sporting federations and the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association. Saldaña says Belize’s vision for developing sports has impressed her, while Olympic Committee President Allan Sharp believes her global experience could help the country avoid costly mistakes, strengthen its federations and unlock major opportunities for Belizean athletes.

 

Jimena Saldaña, Secretary General, PanAm Sports

“I had the opportunity to meet and be at the center of the headquarters of the National Olympic Committee. It was very nice to be with our people there. I met with some federations. And then coming to this summit was extraordinary. I think the effort that they put together to put this summit, sports summit, is really fantastic because you have in the room the right persons to set the future of sports.”

 

Allan Sharp, President, Belize Olympic & Commonwealth Games Association

“Think about the experience that she’s bringing from history of what other countries have been through, what we are going through, plus other small countries and other countries that are still where we are or some that were recently there and able to find solution. This is all knowledge that she has, all wisdom that she has, that she can bring here. And then, of course, another great advantage is and just being here and speaking with the minister already and speaking with us, some great opportunities have been spoken about. Let’s – I can’t really say what they are, but some fantastic opportunities have come up. We get about half a million US dollars per year, just under that. You have to report, but there’s a little bit more flexibility on how you can assist the federations. And most of that money every year, we give over a million dollars to federations every year.”

 

Jimena Saldaña

“PanAm Sports has been with the Olympic Committee of Belize, but also the Belize Olympic Committee has been together with us. They’re a very treasured member of our region, and we really hope that the athletes out there understand that we’re working for them, that they have support, that they have a whole network working for them, and that they keep on dreaming ’cause they have to get there.”

 

Except for the Football Federation of Belize, PanAm Sports is the largest funding agency for all sporting federations in Belize. 

 

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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