Government exploring option of bidding to host major international sports meets

Minister of Sport Charles Griffith has not ruled out the possibility that Barbados could someday submit a joint bid to host major international meets like the Commonwealth Games.

Speaking at the Barbados Olympic Association’s (BOA) headquarters on Wednesday following a tour by the executive of Commonwealth Sport, Griffith said such a feat was not improbable once the requisite facilities on the island were available.

“I mean it is possible, we’re part of the process. The government would have invested heavily last financial year to the tune of almost $50 million in terms of the development of our facilities, so given time where we can build more facilities that will impact or that are capable of hosting, why not?” Griffith asked.

“The only way that we’re going to make sports grow is if we get involved in the process of hosting, so that some of the youngsters who are at community or grassroots level might see a particular sport and say ‘I need to be involved in that’. 

“So hence, hosting is something that I am not going to take off the table. I may not be here to host as minister, but it is certainly something that I’m hoping government can do going forward,” the minister added.

Griffith said the decision by Commonwealth Sport to stage its board meeting in Barbados was a significant and encouraging sign.

He said it showed that the island could step up to the plate when required.

“Hosting them here in Barbados is a big thing. The fact that they selected Barbados to be the venue to host a board meeting I think is important, because it is sending a message that the government and the people of Barbados are serious about sports. And in fact, you know, we can only build on this,” Griffith said.

The minister said he was satisfied with the major upgrades taking place to various sporting facilities across the island. 

He revealed that work was progressing ahead of schedule on the National Stadium, with work also underway at the new multi-purpose facility at Waterford on the site of the old Netball Stadium. An ultra-modern new floor was recently installed at the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium, while work was also recently completed on the new beach sports facility at Wildey.

“In my last report, the Chinese would have indicated that the National Stadium is ahead of schedule and that is a positive. Not only that, if you look around and you see what is happening here in the area (the Wildey Complex), we’re building out different homes for different disciplines,” Griffith said.

“Now the one thing that I would say is that government cannot build a home for every single national federation, so it must be a case where we can share facilities, and I think the federations need to understand that and work together.

“I held a meeting with basketball, volleyball, and netball, and they agreed that something can work in relation to them sharing the multi-purpose facility (at Waterford). So yes, I think we’re on the right path as far as sport is concerned,” he further added.

The visiting delegation is headed by the President of Commonwealth Sport, Dr Donald Rukare, who said they are happy to have staged this week’s events in Barbados.

“We’re here really to attend the board meeting, but also to meet and interact with our colleagues from Barbados and from Commonwealth Sport to sort of engage ourselves in and understanding the culture, understanding the way of life of our colleagues.  

“Barbados is one of our 74 members of the Commonwealth and we’re very happy to be on the road to come here and conduct our executive board meeting,” Dr Rukare said.

(KH)