First Youth & Sports Symposium Seeks to Align Programs to Improve Youths’ Potential

Currently taking place at the Mexico Sports Centre is a two-day forum designed to bring together the key players in the development of youths and sports. The end goal is to align all the programs that cater to youths and sports in order to enhance what they offer to these youths. Today, forty representatives of sporting federations and associations sat with officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and from the Department of Youth Services to do just that. News Five’s Marion Ali was there and filed this report.

Marion Ali, Reporting

Representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the various youth sporting federations across the country and the Department of Youth Services are meeting today and on Wednesday to combine efforts to maximize opportunities for youths’ potential in sports. C.E.O. in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Marconi Leal says there was a litmus test conducted before today’s plan for the future is drafted.

Marconi Leal

Marconi Leal, C.E.O., Ministry of Youth, Sports, Transport

“We had a needs-based assessment in terms of youths, where we interviewed I think seven thousand youths across the country and some of the key things that youths are saying that they need, that’s the focus.”

So what is it that our youths need in order to hone their skills in the various disciplines?

Kevin Cadle

Kevin Cadle, Director, Dept. of Youth Services

“We want to develop a national youth sector strategy framework plan and secondly, we want to develop a national youth in development action plan, and the process for doing those is to coordinate with other youth agencies, bring them together so that we could synchronize our efforts.”

And what can the Ministry provide? Through the National Sports Council, much can be accomplished, according to that governmental agency’s Director, Ian Cal, and it has to involve the business community.

Ian Cal

Ian Cal, Director, National Sports Council

“Once there is inclusivity, we work along closely and much more can get accomplished. There’s a lot that the associations and federations can benefit from the National Sports Council once they are registered. Many years ago, there were some tax breaks that were created for businesses to contribute more to sports. That, for some reason or the other, has died significantly. We want to revive that. We want to ensure that the business community is more involved and they can sponsor these young athletes, these associations and federations.”

On Wednesday, the event will focus more on the sporting disciplines that are expected to see greater enhancements as a result of the joint effort. Marion Ali for News Five.