The Transformative Power of Sports

Belizeans didn’t just watch a race this weekend, they felt it. La Ruta Maya once again proved that sports aren’t only about who crosses the finish line first, but about the rush, the pride, and the shared heartbeat of a country cheering from riverbanks and bridges. The paddlers delivered moments that gave Belizeans real chills, the kind you can’t measure on a scoreboard. From inspiring young athletes to boosting local businesses along the river, the race showed how sports can lift communities and move an entire nation. And tonight, Shane Williams breaks down how events like these do far more than crown champions, they connect us, motivate us, and remind us what we can achieve together.

 

Shane Williams for News Five

Global icon Nelson Mandela once said, “Sports has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire; it has the power to unite people in a unique way.” In this edition of Five-Point Breakdown, we will explore the transformative power of sports on the individual, the community and the world through the experiences of those who have seen it first-hand.

 

Building Discipline and Character

Young athletes quickly learn that success requires commitment, teamwork, and perseverance. Minister of State Devin Daly says the lessons he learned on the basketball court, discipline, teamwork, and hustle, are the same ones driving him at the country’s highest decision‑making table.

 

Devin Daly, Minister of State, Ministry of Tourism, Youth and Sports

“I wouldn’t be the politician, I wouldn’t be the man, I wouldn’t be the father, I wouldn’t be the son. I wouldn’t be the family relative that I am today without sports. It has thought me ways how to resolve conflict positively, deal and manage with stress, network and show camaraderie. And of course it has given me the platform and opportunity  to get a free education abroad and come back and positively impact my country.”

 

Like Devin Daly, across Belize talented athletes have used sports as a pathway to scholarships and international exposure. Keane Gillett was one of those paddlers who made their way to BelCan Bridge on Monday.

 

Canoe Paddler, University of Belize

“They’ve provided me with a scholarship for being able to do something I love. That’s a huge opportunity and I make sure I grab this opportunity with both hands. I am on internship right now so I would just like to say thanks to my lecturer and all my supervisors who have given me the time to train while on my internship because it is very difficult juggling training, school and everything together but I’m really grateful for an opportunity like this to represent the national University of Belize.”

 

Strengthening Community and National Pride

Few things bring people together like a team representing their community. The Kraal Road, Rivero Street and Caesar Ridge area is considered one of the most dangerous parts of Belize City. However, Leaton St. Clair and members of those communities have seen how sports influenced peace and positivity among the at-risk youths.

 

Leaton St. Clair, Manager, Port Loyola FC

“One of the insight that I saw happen to us at City Boys during the covid era, that’s 2020 when the covid came around, because of that and no contact sports and couldn’t being out, that halt us and that stopped the program from functioning. And when that stopped the program from functioning, in that era if we check the news stats the killing went up. The killing went up. Some of the youths backslide. Some of the youths fell short. They didn’t have anything to do and negative influences around the community just crept in. Fast forward to 2022, Port Loyola came into existence under the leadership of Mr. Alex Underwood and again we brought some football success to the community and a bright light to the community in the Port Loyola area. The program does help a lot. It brings some sense of positivity. When you hear the Port Loyola area, when you hear the Southside area, you tend to hear mostly negative things and they do have positive successful stories, long side the Tut Bay Football Club. So Port Loyola  and Tut Bay Football Club are really doing something positive on the Southside of Belize City.”

 

Economic Opportunities for Communities

Major events create opportunities not just for athletes, but for entrepreneurs and small businesses. John Marsden is an accomplished events promoter and co-owner of the Defenders basketball team. He has seen how sports can become an engine for community-based economic activity.

 

John Marsden, NEBL Team Owner

“You have many small businesses who benefit from them. To mention some, you have the barbers, hair techs, nail techs, clothes, taxis, food vendors. Many small businesses benefit. The spill off from it, this have a very big impact on the community. Night clubs get more packed. Taxis get more jobs because they have to drop the people to and from the venue. After the club done, you hungry you go buy food. Even the lee pop up shops, the mom and pop shops them, you want a lee chewing gum you stop in and a chewing gum. You need gas so you have to go the gas stations to get your gas, get your lee water and chewing gum   before you go to the game. So you have a really numerous amount of small businesses that benefit from sporting events and events happening around the city.”

 

A Global Tool for Peace

Sporting events have also had global impacts and are cemented in history like when Jesse Owen’s defied Hitler’s Nazi propaganda by dominating the Berlin Olympics in 1936. President of the Belize Olympic Committee Allan Sharp says the world needs sports now more than ever.

 

Allan Sharp, President, Belize Olympic & Commonwealth Games Association

“I think there is nothing like sport to be used for unity. There is nothing like sports that brings people who are different to be united. Whether it be countries on the political side, gender, races, religion. The Iranians, when they play sport, they right now just play against the United States in various sports, yet politically problems. Obviously, there’s always going to be controversy but the one thing when it comes to playing sports is that everybody is on the playing field enjoying the sport, enjoying participating, enjoying the friendship with your opponent. At war you are trying to take out your opponent but in sports, while you’re trying to win, there is respect.”

 

From building discipline to creating economic opportunities, sports have a ripple effect that reaches far beyond the playing field. And in Belize, that impact continues to grow with every race, match, and tournament. Shane Williams for News Five.

 

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.

 

Watch the full newscast here: