BOA explains funding process

Barbados Olympic Association remains committed to funding national federations and associations amid the Coronavirus pandemic, says vice-president Cameron Burke.

Burke said that 75 per cent of the funding BOA receives through the Barbados Lottery and other partners such as the Olympic Solidarity and Pan Am Sports was invested in the national governing bodies.

He told Barbados TODAY that the other 25 per cent went towards the BOA’s administration where salary and maintenance of the building were concerned.

Some of that money he explained also goes towards capital projects as well where the BOA assists national federations with equipment and installation.

“We may allocate two million dollars for that process and now with the advent of the gaming lottery funds, we are able now to fund athletes and development programs for emerging athletes. We do our part to ensure that our athletes are looked after. And I will be quick to tell you that it is still not enough,” Burke said.

There are four tiers of athletes that the BOA support and they are elite, high performance, developing and emerging. The elite and high performance get monthly stipends to assist with nutritional needs and house rent. Burke noted that this was all to ensure they were comfortable and could better perform.

Where the developing athletes are concerned, they get annual funds which they are required to manage throughout the year. Meanwhile, the funds for emerging athletes go to the national federations who then manage the distribution.

morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb