The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment has been honoured for the assistance it gave in helping Barbados’ bodybuilding team to succeed at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC).
During a recent ceremony at the Ministry’s headquarters, Haggatt Hall, St. Michael, President of the Barbados Amateur Body Building and Fitness Federation (BABBFF), Dr. Alfred Sparman, thanked Minister Charles Griffith and Director of the National Sports Council, Neil Murrell, and presented them with a plaque and medal, respectively, for their support.
Acknowledging that the support given was seen “in the morale of the athletes and the executive”, Dr. Sparman stated: “We want to thank you for what you’ve done for bodybuilding and to sports in general in this country, without you we couldn’t be where we are today.”
In accepting the award, Minster Griffith said: “My work in this chair is never going to be about that. That is an add-on and I thank you for recognising the work, but there’s a team that I’m functioning with here at the Ministry.”
He noted that “bodybuilding is one of those sports that kept Barbados on the map for many years”, and reiterated the need for certified officials and trainers to accompany the athletes at competitions and for the revival of bodybuilding in schools.
“The school boy’s competition is pretty dormant. I believe we need to get that up and running again. If you can go into the schools and trigger it at that particular level, then I believe we can start again to move bodybuilding to a level where we want it to be,” Mr. Griffith said.
The Minister stated that the school boys would be facilitated at the Wildey Gymnasium’s indoor gym and other satellites gyms across the island.
He also indicated that he would discuss the matter with the Minister of Education so that some lunchtime posing would take place at a number of primary and secondary schools.
While congratulating the team members who medalled at the games, Mr. Griffith also commended Roger Boyce, who is Vice President of the BABBFF executive, on his rise to the Vice-Presidency of the CAC.