NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Despite the fact that many government ministries, including the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, faced significant budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic earlier in the year, sports officials today confirmed that athletes will still receive subvention to fund training for the 2021 season, and that the grants would not be further reduced.
During the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture’s Minister’s Report press conference, Permanent Secretary in the ministry Eugene Poitier said as long as athletes qualify, they’ll receive subvention. However, there was no word on whether or not there were adjustments made to the qualification standards.
“We have a subvention list and every year recommendations come in from the various federations and we proceed accordingly,” he said. “Once an athlete qualifies in accordance with the stipulations put in place, then they are awarded.”
In June, it was announced that subventions for elite athletes would drop from $1,346,150 to $1,076,920, but it is still unclear how many athletes will be affected ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, which have been postponed until 2021.
In addition, aid to student-athletes was reduced from $142,500 last year to about $110,000, although there is no indication as to who and how many athletes fall into this category.
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