The search has begun for the best junior athletes throughout the country.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr. Daniel Johnson left yesterday beginning his tour, which is the first phase of constructing the National Sports Academy. Johnson applauded all the members of both the CARIFTA track and field team, as well as the swimming squad on the magnificent job over the Easter holiday weekend. He said the time is now to start investing in our junior athletes, especially those on the Family Islands.
"The real feature of our future progress in the sports world is going to center around this thing we call National Sports Academy," said Johnson. "That will begin happening in earnest, this summer. The structure and the staff have to be put in place. We are not going to jump up in Nassau right away, because Nassau has so much. We are going to go into the Family Islands and find the first crop.
"I will be going to Abaco, West End Grand Bahama and we are going to come right down the chain of islands this year, setting up some very innovative workshops and mini-academies. Those persons will be tracked for a year and come back to Nassau where we will engage with them at the highest level of coaching, training and sports science to make them the best that they can be."
In December of last year, Johnson said five persons were identified, so far. Those recruiters/coaches will have the responsibility of nurturing young Bahamian athletes who are enrolled into the national program. Several centers of excellence will be set up, giving Bahamian athletes full access to better training and updated facilities.
Johnson did not set an opening date for the National Sports Academy. Prime Minister Perry Christie announced last year that four centers of excellence will be constructed on four Family Islands. The athletic training centers will be constructed on New Providence, Grand Bahama, Exuma and Andros.

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