Dear Editor,
Thanks for allowing me to share a snippet of what I envision, what I imagine. John Lennon challenged us to imagine a world of brotherhood, a world of peace. Well, when it comes to The Bahamas becoming a magnet for sports, consider using that as a foundation, as a dragnet to become a world championship celebration destination. Imagine -- "Villa de Championne"!
By now we all know that it is a tradition and a privilege for most American sports champions to be honored as a guest of the current President at the White House. We in The Bahamas can top that. Now all that needs to happen, subsequent to that traditional, time-honored formal invitation, is an informal place of relaxation, right here in The Bahamas -- winter, spring, summer or fall.
I dream of a championship village, preferably in Abaco, Freeport or Eleuthera, where baseball, basketball, football, or any other major sporting championship team, can come to The Bahamas for at least a week and experience a sporting haven for relaxation and celebration. Disney World alive and well in The Bahamas -- the magical kingdom sporting destination for championship celebration!
There will be a first class facility complete with a professional indoor basketball court, a convertible baseball/football/soccer field -- just for starters. There would be a first class, five-star residence that can accommodate at least 100-150 patrons, with private rooms for one or two patrons, or single personal suites as some athletes, coaches or other high ranking officials might desire. Fully decorated with a Bahamian flavor, a Bahamian Sports Hall of Fame to boot; maybe even an international Hall of Fame. There would be a first class -- Bahamian products only -- straw market, strategically and aesthetically located. There would be regularly slated Junkanoo and other Bahamian cultural festivities to entertain. Our National Youth Choir, our Dundas thespians, our KB's, and other talented singers and poets putting on a show...Can you imagine?
There would be a kitchen that serves primarily Bahamian, but other Caribbean cuisine - managed by Bahamians. There would be Bahamian pastries, fruits and other delicacies available 24 hours a day. Can you imagine the market for the tons of mangoes (instead of rotting on the ground like this past summer), the tons of coconut water, the sapodillas and other delicious Bahamian fruit used to make drinks, etc.? There would be fishing tours, diving tours, especially diving -- Shaunae could lead that activity! There will be many water and land recreational activities all regulated and managed by professional, certified service officers. Other recreational, entertaining and exciting services can be brought to bear later, as entrepreneurs join the entertaining fray.
The facilities could provide year round accommodation. Imagine the crowned champions from the NCAA Men's and Women's basketball, baseball or football teams yearning to be a part of the celebrations, the grandiose experiences. Imagine the NBA and the WNBA joining the party. Imagine Major League Baseball World Series Champions!
Imagine The Bahamas becoming a staple as a destination of celebration on the championship level. Imagine "Villa de Championne" or whatever other attractive, substantive name that speaks volumes of quality fun and relaxation. Imagine celebrating here becoming one of the main goals, one of the main motivational factors toward becoming a champion in any sport.
Imagine the boost to the local economy, imagine!
Then imagine the "Villa de Championne" eventually becoming a destination of celebration for world sports champions of almost any sport. Imagine the Brazilians, the Chinese, the British, South Americans, South Africans and other European sporting programs.
Could we do it? Could we be become the premier destination for celebration after the White House visit, after the ticker tape parades of the newly crowned champions in their local cities? Could we make it worth their championship experience? Could we? Imagine...Could we seek the sporting world billionaires, the other talk show, fashion and entertaining moguls to join forces to sponsor such a place? Could the government secure and provide the acres of land needed for such a world-class, one of a kind facility? Could we build such a premier visionary complex, complete with the above amenities and more? Could we build it outside of New Providence? Yes we can!
Editor, thank you for allowing me to share this "sportstastic" idea that has been playing around in the arena of my mind for a few years. Hopefully we can dive into this and strike gold. After all, where in the world does such a village exist? And where better in the world for such a village to exist? We have the Jumbey Village, now let us build a world-class champion sporting village of reward and relaxation.
And how do we fund such a venture? First of all, we can take the diamond in the rough idea and fine tune it. Secondly, we solicit the Pitinos, the Caliparis, the Jordans, the Cubans, and other big name team owners and coaches, to buy into the vision. Couple that with the private sector and government. That could surely take care of the funding and the backing that would be needed.
Let us blaze a new champion trail for world-class champs...IMAGINE!
- Dr. B
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