400K to prepare the team and host the regional volleyball championship!
And now to the costs. President Allan Sharp told the press today that getting to the championship and producing the result has been years of hard work that has required significant investment and sacrifices on the team’s behalf. But getting the dream team ready for this regional competition has cost over two hundred thousand dollars – yes, you heard right, two hundred grand. Today, he gave a breakdown of the costs and what it has taken in one year for the team to get ready for the competition. Important to note, Sharp pointed out that they have received assistance from sponsors and other donors – and the team is still in need of financial help to cover costs. And then there is the cost of hosting the event which is another two hundred thousand dollars – as Belize hosted all the teams, except Honduras that didn’t participate. And the regional parent organization didn’t contribute to the tournament, so the association has to bear the full cost of putting on the event. Here’s more from Sharp.
Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association
“How do we put the cost on the girls’ time that they put in because we are not paying them? But there are some costs that we can put our fingers on and had the BVA had to pay for everything, the Cuban coaches, facility, transportation of athletes, practice uniforms – the total cost of that is two hundred and four thousand and that is just in one year. Again, I am saying this so that other sports and the government and everybody understand what it takes to put that in. Obviously, Belize Volleyball doesn’t have two hundred and four thousand dollars, and a lot of those things are donated in kind. So, we have coaches, rental of practice facility, weight gym, practice matches each of which cost about ten thousand dollars to pull off. The training equipment, transportation of athletes that is whether they are coming from out district or right here in the City, the room and board of those athletes, team activities for team bonding, physiotherapist and doctors because we need to take care of the injuries. Again, somebody has to pay for that and sometimes it is in kind and sometimes discounted. Then there is the practice uniforms and the match uniforms that make up a total budget for one year for one team of about two hundred thousand dollars.”
Reporter
“And the budget for the hosting, can you give us a ballpark figure?”
Allan Sharp
Allan Sharp
“Originally, if Honduras had come, it would have been two hundred and thirty thousand. Honduras didn’t come, so we are just under that two hundred and thirty thousand. Basically, we saved on the two major expenses, hotel and food, but everything else we had to pay for.”
Reporter
“Could you say if any contribution by the Government – what part did they play?”
Allan Sharp
“The government so far has committed to donating some funds.”
Reporter
“What have they given already?”
Allan Sharp
“Financially, they have not contributed so far. But they did donated some police – we got police for security for free.”
