Immediately upon the return of its Family Islands team from Long Island, the Bahamas Boxing Commission (BBC) officially presented its program to Director of Sports Tim Munnings.
Heading the team to Long Island recently was Commission Chairman Alvin Sargent. He was accompanied by Deputy Chairman and Secretary Fred Sturrup, Dr. Patrick Roberts, Fernley Palmer, Alvin Davis and James Tynes. While in Long Island, the commission appointed Omar Daley as its associate, who will direct the program in the area.
"We felt as a group that the time had come to begin operating and reaching out to the islands. That is what we plan to do going forward, and it is a pleasure to be able to find in the islands, proactive and dedicated young sports leaders like Omar," said Sargent.
The commission's plans are innovative. The commission has determined that the overlapping of sporting programs will foster greater growth overall in the country. So here is, a veteran bodybuilder, who has represented the country in competition and mentors young Long Islanders from his base in Stella Maris. He will now branch out into boxing training. The commission will provide Daley with equipment, and he will expand his fitness center in Stella Maris to accommodate boxing training. The collaboration of disciplines from a training perspective is just the first phase of the commission's program for the islands.
The next phase will be in-island competitions that will heighten the exposure for the overlapping sports. In the case of Daley in Stella Maris, it is likely that during the first part of 2014, the commission will assist him in coordinating a tournament at which young body builders and novice boxers will be showcased.
The proposed third phase will be an invitational competition for which various islands inclusive of New Providence will be invited to participate. The commission, as it carries out its program in the islands, will be aware of the official organizations that has jurisdiction for the different disciplines.
The commission will operate accordingly and move forward only after receiving the endorsement of the parent sporting bodies. The commission is functioning also with the agreement of understanding for boxing development between the Amateur Boxing Federation of The Bahamas (ABFB) and the Pan American Caribbean Boxing Organization's (PACBO) head office, which is located in this country. Munnings is impressed with the direction the commission is taking.
"This is very good. I like the idea. It is always good when we think about helping out in the Family Islands. This seems like the route to take to make sure that the country is best covered," said Munnings, while at the same time, encouraging the commission to continue its mission of sporting inclusion and education in the islands.
Daley and his fellow sports leaders in Long Island can take satisfaction in the fact that the commission intends to focus on Long Island until the program, under Daley, is firmly in place. According to Sargent, a commission team will be returning to Long Island "early in the new year".
o To respond to this sports feature, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com.

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