“Last week I had the immense pleasure to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our youth and present $246,000 in sponsorship awards to our brightest talents. This is made possible through the Department of Sport and Recreation’s longstanding National Junior Sponsorship Awards Programme and is another demonstration that this Government is following through with our promise to support our young people,” said the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, Sen. the Hon. Owen K. Darrell, JP, as he highlighted the recent awards ceremony for Bermuda’s junior and elite athletes.
During last week’s National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme Awards ceremony, 24 elite athletes, eleven (11) junior athletes and six (6) coaches received funding to assist in their athletic pursuits. The ceremony which was held on May 22nd, 2024, at the Hamilton Princess and Beach Club, saw awards presented to recipients by Minister Darrell; local tennis legend Gavin Manders, who was a guest speaker ceremony and past awardee; and the Director of Sport and Recreation Charysse Bean (all pictured).
Today Minister Darrell said, “Government is committed to investing more in our elite athletes. As such, the Department of Sport and Recreation has significantly increased funding for the Elite Athlete Sponsorship from $87,000 to just under $188,000 this fiscal year. This demonstrates our commitment to building a pathway to excellence for any athlete seeking to pursue sport on a professional level.
“Also, this year, just over $49,000 in funding was presented to junior athletes and coaches. And for the third year, the Flora Duffy Award – $10,000 – will provide financial support to two Bermudians towards their sport endeavors. It was important that we presented these awards together because it showed our junior athletes how Government can assist athletes during their sporting journey. This kind of recognition speaks to our National Sports Policy goals, in particular: Fostering a thriving sporting community where every young person has the chance to realize their full potential.”
Minister Darrell concluded, “It was a pleasure to honour the outstanding achievements of our junior award recipients, who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and perseverance in their respective fields. When balancing academics, sports, the arts, or community service, these young individuals have set a high standard for their peers.
“I believe with the proper investment, which is what we are doing, our young people can reach that next step to achieving their professional ambitions in football, cricket, swimming, athletics, cycling, or the triathlon can become a reality.”