Mat Sports have been underappreciated in this country for the most part. For any number of reasons, none of them realistic, boxing, judo, taekwondo, wrestling, fencing and other mat disciplines have not been paid much attention by the powers that be.
Mere pittance has been the expectation. In fact, compared to higher profiled sports programs, the mat sports have gotten no more than the crumbs from the table. Well, enough is enough! Finally, there is a move afoot to heighten the presence of mat sports in the country.
Mat sports leaders have recently been talking regularly about a collaboration of events. This past weekend, there were two such competitions that turned out to be successes. First, there was the mixture of amateur and professional boxing in the Rainforest Theatre at the Wyndham Nassau Resort. It is the same sport but the mixture of amateurs and professional, looks like a great combination going forward, based on the response of the crowd at the Rainforest Theatre.
The following day, judo, wrestling and fencing were afforded a smaller but enthusiastic audience. The mat sports mix is a good formula and if the respective leaders concentrate on solidifying the movement, the deserved "high" attention from the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture will be the result.
Amateur Boxing Federation of The Bahamas (ABFB) President Wellington Miller (who also heads the Bahamas Olympic Committee) calls the movement, "the best idea to date for mat sports."
"In the past, mat sports operated in isolation of the other. Even in boxing, amateur boxing and the professional part were separate. Despite the good signs shown when both classifications came together on the same show, for the most part, the organizers staged separate events.
"Now, with the overwhelming way in which the fans at the Rainforest Theatre accepted the combination last Friday, hopefully that mix of amateurs and pros will happen more often than not. I personally see it as a very good thing. For years now, we in boxing had this agreement of understanding between us (ABFB), the Bahamas Boxing Commission and the Pan American Caribbean Boxing Organization (PACBO). We staged a tournament together with PACBO in 2009 and they have given equipment to the federation and other clubs in the country. The boxing commission has aided the whole program as well. All we need to do now is build on that agreement. With the other mat sports getting together, boxing can join in and it will boost the outlook for mat sports and much more," said Miller.
In truth, the mat sports movement has the makings of something that will evolve into a major presence on the local sporting landscape. Miller is prepared to get with other mat sports leaders to craft a template.
"We just have to get together and come up with a definite plan, for the future. Already, there have been pockets of activity that proves the mat sports movement can progress. We just need now to better organize the movement," added Miller.
It is anticipated that an even bigger mat competition inclusive of as many as six disciplines will happen early in 2014. The 'Big Mat Sports Blast' is coming!
(To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at sturrup1504@gmail.com)

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