Athletes still expected to receive subvention for 2021 season

Athletes still expected to receive subvention for 2021 season
Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Permanent Secretary Eugene Poitier (FILE PHOTO)

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.

About Randy Smith

Randy Smith is the producer of the widely-watched local television show “Beyond The Headlines” and the web content manager of Eyewitness News. He joined Eyewitness News as a sportscaster in 2018, a role he still performs, and has previously covered a slew of international sporting events, including the 2015 Pan American Games, the Nike EYBL Showcase, several IAAF World Relays, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the Commonwealth Youth Games, the Bahamas Bowl and multiple CARIFTA Swimming and Track & Field Championships. Randy has been recognized by the Bahamas Press Club with awards for “Best Sports Broadcast” as a sportscaster and “Best TV Talk Show” as a producer.