“National Sports Month provides an opportunity to celebrate athletic excellence, encourage healthy lifestyle and promote greater participation in sporting among individuals of all ages and abilities,” Bain said.
This year, the Ministry will celebrate and shine a spotlight on Bahamian women in sports, recognizing their achievements, invaluable contributions and lasting impact as athletes, coaches, officials and leaders in the sporting community.
Five women have been chosen in Grand Bahama — Sonia Knowles for her involvement in baseball; Helena Cooper for both volleyball and softball and her labour with the Grand Bahama Sports Council; Gena Taylor for swimming; Cecile Campbell for her commitment to various sporting disciplines and Karon Pinder-Johnson who has long served as chaperone and team manager for swimming and her role as executive director at the YMCA in Grand Bahama.
Additional activities will include a pitching clinic, high school cheerleading competition, a Conchman Triathlon, High Rock-to-Freeport Road Race, boot camp and flag football tournament.
Schools, sporting associations, businesses, families and the general public are also invited to participate in the Ministry’s female self-defence classes at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex and its adult learn-to-swim classes and senior tennis lessons at the YMCA every Saturday, all being offered free of charge during the month of November.
Youth and Sports Officer for Abaco, Marco Cooper, outlined a series of activities planned for the island, including visits to high schools to promote sports and educate students about various sporting disciplines.
Other activities include a road relay from Spring City to Murphy Town, a ceremony honouring 30 softball athletes, the Northern Bahamas Volleyball Championship (being held for the first time on that northern island), a softball jamboree, and a basketball jamboree.
