Lewis excited about the Bahamas Games

The Bahamas Games, the multi-sports undertaking by The Bahamas’ Government, appears to be on the way back!

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Iram Lewis said in his contribution to the national budget debate in Parliament last Wednesday that they are in the planning stages for the sixth edition of the Bahamas Games, set for the summer of 2023.

In total, about $3.328 million dollars has been set aside in the national budget over the next three fiscal periods for the hosting of the games – $650,000 in this upcoming 2021-2022 cycle; $1 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal period; and another $1,677,975 for the 2023-2024 period.

At its peak, the Bahamas Games was one of the more anticipated and thrilling sporting events in the country. The majestic grandeur of the Bahamas Games lent credence to a time when the entire country came together for a two-week period through sports. It is arguably the most comprehensive sporting extravaganza in the history of The Bahamas.

Lewis said he is excited to announce that his ministry is in the initial planning stages and looks forward to the Olympic-style sporting event that promotes national unity coming to fruition in 2023. The five previous editions of the Bahamas Games were held in 1989, 1991, 1995, 1998 and 2001.

Lewis, a two-time Olympian, was the winner of the men’s 100 meters (m) at the first Bahamas Games in 1989.

“All previous versions of the games were successful in their intent, as reflected in their revelation of world-class athletic talent in The Bahamas and especially in our Family Islands. Best indicators of this are the subsequent preponderance of Family Island athletes on this country’s numerous men and women’s World and Olympic Championships and gold medal teams,” said the minister. “The upcoming sixth edition of the Bahamas Games will be timed to coincide with the grand celebration of our nation’s ‘Golden Jubilee’ or 50th anniversary of national independence in July 2023. The Bahamas Games Secretariat will plan and execute the games with the assistance of volunteer committees and the various sports federations and associations. We look forward to this special opportunity to showcase and highlight our local sports power.”

Lewis, who served as the Minister of State for the Ministry of Disaster Preparedness, Management and Reconstruction from September 2019 to February 2021, is now heading the ministry in which he made arguably his greatest impact in his heyday. He was a strong sprinter, running personal best times of 10.20 seconds in the 100m and 20.64 seconds in the 200m. Lewis also has under his belt a windy sub-10 seconds 100m (9.95), and participated in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics as a member of The Bahamas’ men’s 4x100m relay team. He is a former relay national record holder.

“The feeling of nationalism is indispensable to the idea of nation building, and the Bahamas Games is designed to promote national unity among the people of The Bahamas,” said Lewis. “Sports is perhaps one of the strongest common threads that binds people together and helps in developing a feeling of patriotism and unity that can counter promoters of division and strife. It helps in elevating qualities of dedication, determination, teamwork, and a passion for fitness in the psyche of a nation.

“We will not be able to properly host a befitting ‘Golden Jubilee Bahamas Games’ without the solid support of every Bahamian, every budding and professional athlete, and Corporate Bahamas. So, I encourage all parties to step up to the plate to ensure that we give our young people and our country our best.”

The Bahamas Games features a variety of sporting disciplines such as athletics, baseball, basketball, swimming, volleyball, tennis and boxing just to name a few. Athletes represented the various islands of The Bahamas, thereby creating exposure for those islands, and competed against one another. National federations and sports bodies, which are responsible for the development of their respective sports, play an integral role in facilitating the organization of the multi-sports events during the games.

“It is important that where possible, the government, through my ministry provide as much assistance, both technical and financial, as we can. In this regard, we have continued to provide financial assistance to the organizations that are registered and administratively compliant to assist with their various programs,” said the minister.

Initially planned for every two years, the Bahamas Games were discontinued due to financial setbacks and the economic climate in the country.

Lewis, the country’s third minister of sports under the current Free National Movement (FNM) administration, said he is looking forward to the return of the games in 2023 and he’s optimistic that this edition of the games will be the best ever – more grand and spectacular than before.

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