Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with this Honourable House recent developments in the area of sport—highlighting our continued commitment to recognizing student-athletes, supporting elite athletes, and investing in the development of National Sports Governing Bodies.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday June 12th, the Department of Sport & Recreation hosted the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme (NJASP) at the Butterfield & Vallis Conference Room at the Bermuda College. This annual initiative aims to recognize and provide development opportunities to Bermudian junior athletes between the ages of 15 - 19, who clearly show commitment, promise and achievement in their respective sport.

This year, $50,000 was allocated to ten (10) recipients to continue development overseas and five (5) National Sport Governing Bodies to bring in coaches. These contributions will support and provide opportunities for Bermudian junior athletes to reach their full potential and hopefully represent Bermuda at major sporting events in the future.

Mr. Speaker, during the NJASP ceremony, $10,000 was allocated to the recipient of the Flora Duffy Award. The Flora Duffy award contribution is intended to provide training/competition inducements to a promising athlete between the ages of 19-23, who are likely to achieve elite athlete status at senior level given their continued participation and commitment to their sport. The 2025 recipient of this award was Bermuda National Athletics Association athlete, Ryan Outerbridge. Ryan Outerbridge is a standout distance runner who has made significant strides in both national and collegiate athletics. A senior at Franklin Pierce University, Outerbridge has earned NCAA Division II All-Region honors in the 1500 meters, steeplechase, and 5000 meters, underscoring his versatility and endurance. Mr Outerbridge has also participated in the annual Bermuda Half Marathon and has impressively been the runner-up for the past two consecutive years. His performances have made him a standout competitor in this iconic race. It is hoped that Outerbridge will represent Bermuda at major festivals in the very near future.

Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, June 19th, the Department of Sport & Recreation in collaboration with the Bermuda School Sports Federation (BSSF) hosted the annual Denton Hurdle Memorial Awards Ceremony at Warwick Academy. This prestigious event honours Bermuda’s most promising primary, middle, and senior school student-athletes—individuals who demonstrate outstanding sporting talent, leadership and community engagement.

This year, fifty-seven (57) student-athletes were recognized across the three divisions. I take this opportunity to congratulate the 2025 Denton Hurdle Award winners:

• Primary School Champions: Kierra Broadley-Samuels (St. George’s Prep.) & Owen Fosker (Warwick Academy)
• Middle School Champions: Avery Taylor (Bermuda High School) & Chaz Edmead (Saltus Grammar School)
• Senior School Champions: Carina Bortoli (Somersfield Academy) & Khari Sharrieff (Berkeley Institute)

Mr. Speaker, it must also be noted that Khari Sharieff, who is an exceptional athlete in football and athletics, has won this prestigious award at all school levels, primary, middle and high school. There is a plethora of potential that lies within our school system and these recipients represent the very best of Bermuda’s young talent as they serve as shining examples.

Mr. Speaker, in line with the objectives of the Bermuda National Sports Policy (2022–2027), I am pleased to confirm the continued delivery of the Elite Athlete Sponsorship Initiative. This program provides critical funding to Bermuda’s top-performing athletes from recognized National Sports Governing Bodies to support their training, competition, and international representation efforts.

For fiscal year 2025/26, one hundred fifty-four and five hundred ($154,500) was allocated to twenty-five (25) elite athletes, from 15 different sports, allowing them to pursue excellence on the global stage. This initiative directly supports Goal #2.1 of the National Sports Policy, “Increase Government funding for high performance athletes and teams by 30%”. It reflects this Government’s belief that financial barriers should not limit our athletes as they strive to make achieve sporting excellence.

Mr. Speaker, the various sports our supported elite athletes participate in include:

• Cycling
• Athletics
• Bowling
• Swimming
• Triathlon
• Pickleball
• Archery
• Motorcycle Racing
• Para-Athletics
• Wushu
• Rugby
• Boccia
• And Motocross

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to report on the allocations under the Sport Investment Program (SIP). This program provides annual funding to recognized National Sports Governing Bodies (NSGBs) to assist with their operational capacity, athlete development pathways, coaching education, and grassroots expansion efforts.

In 2025/26, a total of over $2M was allocated through the SIP to 26 NSGBs, and associated programmes which is an increase compared to 2024/25 which was an allocation of just under $2M . These investments are the cornerstone of the Government’s commitment to the long-term development and sustainability of sport in Bermuda. The benefits of SIP are wide-ranging—from enhancing coaching capacity, to enabling more inclusive access to sport across all communities and high performance.

Mr. Speaker, taken together, these three initiatives—Denton Hurdle Awards, the Elite Athlete Sponsorship, and the Sport Investment Program—demonstrate this Government’s holistic approach to sport development. From recognizing the next generation of talent, to empowering elite athletes, and strengthening sport governance—we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure that sport continues to be a powerful vehicle for national pride, social cohesion, and individual empowerment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.