Sport Summit “Cannot Simply Become Another Talk Shop”
Belize’s first-ever National Sports Summit is challenging the country to move beyond discussions about the problems facing local athletes and build a sports system with clear targets, responsibilities and accountability.
The summit is tackling issues ranging from weak governance and inadequate facilities to participation barriers and limited athlete support. It has brought athletes, sporting administrators, and policymakers to examine these issues.
Prime Minister John Briceño and several of his ministers, including Minister of Tourism, Youth, Sports and Diaspora Relations Anthony Mahler, Minister of State Gilroy Usher, and the currently Cabinet-benched Minister of Home Affairs and Enterprise Oscar Mira, were in the front and center of the summit.
PM Briceño said today’s sport summit “cannot simply become another discussion or talk shop about the challenges we already know.”
Briceño agreed that developing a clear pathway for young athletes begins with stronger governance. “Good governance is the foundation upon which every successful sporting system is built. Our federations, associations, government agencies, and sporting institutions must operate with accountability, transparency, and a shared commitment to develop our athletes. This means that resources must be used responsibly,” he said.
“Our success will depend upon partnership among government, sporting organizations, schools, coaches, communities, athletes, parents, and the private sector,” he added.
While PM Briceño pointed to sports as a tool for improving public health, developing athletes for international competition and creating new economic opportunities through sports tourism, he also recognised the significant financial investment demand but did not stop short of pledging to push for increased government investment in sports.
“In a small developing country, we know that we have so many challenges that the money is very limited. But I believe that if we can make the case about the importance of sports to the development of this country, to the health of our people, and to the economic opportunities that it can bring, I believe that the cabinet we’ll be able to listen and to be able to dig deeper into our pocket,” he said. “ I’m pledging to do all I can to improve government’s investment in sports. But we must also work on sports financing. The constraints that are put on small developing countries or developing nations like Belize, are many.”