Ministry of Sports Holds Athletes Appreciation Dinner
Summer 2023 has been described as the summer of Belizean athletes. Fans across the country got to witness our athletes in various disciplines compete against regional teams, right here at home. In all of those tournaments, Belize made the podium. We also saw athletes compete in tournaments across the Central American and Caribbean regions, as well as internationally. The majority of them brought home medals. As the summer comes to an end, the Ministry of Sports held an event in Belize City celebrating Belizean athletes and their achievements. New Five’s Paul Lopez reports.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Summer 2023 is being hailed as the summer of Belizean athletes. And on Thursday night, the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council hosted a dinner in celebration of dozens of athletes from eight sporting disciplines who medaled in various tournaments.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports
“Ever since I became the Minister of Sports I said I wanted to change the image of the National Sports Council, but they have one of the smallest budgets in the country so it is difficult to see gradual changes. Over the last month and a half our athletes are travelling around the region, the world and even locally we held several games and we want to showcase them and honor them because they have done extremely well. They made Belize proud and put us on the map. So this will be continuous and we also want to figure out how we can do a hall of fame down the road so that those who have retired we can say you know what Belize is here for all of you.”
Belize’s powerlifting team brought home over forty medals from the North American Powerlifting Championships in the Cayman Islands. Alida Sharp brought home multiple gold medals. She broke several world records during the tournament and she became Belize’s first international powerlifting referee.
Alida Sharp
Alida Sharp, Powerlifting Athlete
“It is such an honor to be here and it is every exciting. As the room started to fill up and the different athletes started to come in it was like I can’t believe I am here with everybody and that I am a part of this celebration. It just really helps us to know that people care and people appreciate the hard work that we have done, because I mean anybody that has won a medal or goes out to represent their country, you know a lot of work has gone into that, so for it to be acknowledged at this level, it is overwhelming.”
The Belize Karate Federation has competed and medaled in several regional tournaments for the year. According to Leon Guild, the Head Coach of the National Karate Selection of Belize, the national team has consistently won awards at regional tournament over the years. He says that karate has been an under-acknowledged discipline in the country.
Alida Sharp
Leon Guild, Head Coach, National Karate Selection
“It is definitely, as I mentioned to you earlier our achievements have been under acknowledged in Belize cause we are not a very big sport. We are more individualistic. To be acknowledged among the other sports that are volleyball, basketball are here, I feel it is very important for my athletes to be here. I personally have never met any Minister of Sports before so it is a good feeling that my athletes can be here. We even have the under-twelve here so it does wonders for us when you have these accolades. At twelve you met the Minister of Sports and he encourages you to want to do more. So we are very glad to be here.”
Several members of the Belize Senior Men’s Volleyball Team were also present at Thursday night’s dinner. They are being recognized for their bronze medal performance at the Central America Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship held here in Belize.
Elton Anderson
Elton Anderson, Captain, Belize Senior Men’s Volleyball Team
“It is a real overwhelming feeling. I never know of anything such as this. When we got the invite we were super surprised. We said that we are going to come out in number and represent the Belize Volleyball Association and like I said the ministry, especially is recognizing he good that the athletes are doing. This was a wonderful summer for all Belizean athletes and citizens. I know a lot of people weren’t thinking we would have done so great, but with the number of medals and great results we got, all we can do now is hope it can get better. WE know the difference between third, second and first is just that little push. I believe that each organization needs their own gym personally. I believe our coaching staff needs stipend or something and like I said this is something wonderful and I hope it continues and not just only for this year.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez.
