Government, in conjunction with the Commonwealth Secretariat, will be crafting a Sports Tourism Strategy, to assist the island in cashing in on the US $600 million global value of sports tourism.

Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Senator Irene Sandiford-Garner, made this announcement during the Pan American Sport Organization???s dinner celebrations last night at Hilton Barbados.

She said sports tourism contributed 10 to 14 per cent of all travel and tourism receipts and, therefore, the effort would be undertaken in collaboration with the Barbados Tourism Authority and the Division of Sports.

Senator Sandiford-Garner told the audience that there are in excess of 60 sporting disciplines that are practised in the island and had taken sports including cycling, boxing, judo, swimming, yachting, shooting and track and field to the Olympics.

???Our record will show that we also have a record of excellence in the likes of the Right Excellent Sir Garfield Sobers ??? the greatest cricketer the world has ever seen ??? Obadele Thompson, bronze medalist in the 100 metres at the Sydney Olympics; Ryan Brathwaite, gold medalist in the 110 metres hurdles in the 2009 World Championships; and Patrick Husbands, champion jockey in Canada and the Caribbean to name a few,??? she underlined.

Senator Sandiford Garner commended the organisers for hosting their executive meetings in the island.

julie.carrington@barbados.gov.bb

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