Bulbulia keen on sports development

One of Barbados’ young bright youth leaders is continuing his vision for sports development in the island.

Taahir Bulbulia, a 21-year-old student at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill was elected for the next two years to serve as Barbados’ ambassador to the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

The former Christ Church Foundation School student and currently the vice-president at UWI Cave Hill guild said he was extremely grateful for the opportunity and thanked those that assisted him in reaching this goal.

Outlining the process and what it entailed to sign up and be part of this excellent international program, Bulbulia said: “You have to be nominated by your country, so I was nominated by Barbados to be the ambassador for the two-year program. You go through a process and if accepted you get the ambassador’s stamp to your name.

“You basically have to run an initiative, create an action plan and promote the values that the international university sports federation wants you to promote and what is needed within your university and within your country.”

This wonderful FISU program provides an avenue for students at various universities to connect with each other. They also highlight the role sports can play in terms of building a nation.

FISU has implemented several activities at an international level such as the university international games which Barbados has participated in on numerous occasions. They also have a variety of educational programs and commemorate the international day of university sports which is coming up.

More recently they have launched the ambassador program which promotes students engagement and participation at a national level within individual countries.

“For me, it is basically to continue the journey of sports development in Barbados and even throughout the region. COVID has taught us the importance of diversifying our economy and sports is one avenue which we can seek to develop and really enhance the sporting culture in Barbados. Then hopefully we can see the real benefit on a larger scale in Barbados through sport and sports development,” he said.

While in this chair as Barbados’ ambassador, Bulbulia plans to embark on a relationship with all the stakeholders at the national level including the Barbados Olympic Association, National Sports Council and national federations. This he explained is in an effort to promote the value of sports.

So, things like public forums to engage the public about the benefits of sport and sports development to a nation are all part of Bulbulia’s action plan. He wants Barbadians to recognise what benefit sports can bring to the economy, what role it can play within communities and how the island can become a healthier and more active society.

“I intend to offer through this program some assistance where necessary to help them develop their spaces and our spaces to in essence develop Barbados. Also, many outreach initiatives to schools, communities, sporting clubs to promote the value of sport and the benefit of sports to a country.

“If we really want to start developing sports in Barbados, we have to start at the bottom and make our way to the top. There have been efforts made but it is just a matter of continuing these efforts that have been made, “ he added.

No stranger to such ventures, Bulbulia launched the Sports Science Society last year as the representative for the Faculty of Sports Science on the guild of students. Through that sports society program, Bulbulia and his team were able to develop sports in Barbados on a small scale over the one-year period.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb

Barbados’ ambassador for the International University Sports Federation, Taahir Bulbulia.
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb