SPORTS, TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE & CULTURE

As part of efforts to seek technical assistance for the establishment of the National Institute of Sports in 2013, Minister of State with responsibility for Sports Senator Winston Williams Jr led a delegation to Cuba to hold discussions with his government counterparts in the field of sports, led by the Cuban Minister of Sports Hon Christian Jimenez Molina.
 

During the visit, the Antiguan & Barbudan Delegation visited a number of high performance training institutes including those specializing in Volleyball, Gymnastics and Football, as well as the International Institute of Physical Education & Sports which provides training in a wide range of sports.
 

High level meetings were also held with Senior Technicians in the Ministry of Sports to include the Directors of Sports Medicine, Sports Culture, International Affairs and the Presidents of a number of Sports Federations. Senator Williams focused his attention on four main areas for attention in the Institute to include:

1. The general organizational, administrative and programme components

2. The development of a High Performance Department

3. The Sports Diagnostic Centre, to include: a. General medical care. b. Physiotherapy. c. Rehabilitation. d. Sports Biomechanical assessment

4. The development of a Sports Medical Services Department

5. The Culture of Sports Unit, which is expected to focus primarily on programmes designed to engage all residents, from the cradle to the grave, in physical activity and sports.
 

Senator Williams described the meetings as being very productive. He stated that the Cuban Government agreed to dispatch a team of experts to Antigua & Barbuda by the end of November 2012 to conduct a review of the sector and provide guidance on the way forward for the establishment of the Institute.
 

The Minister State - Sports is expected to host a press conference to share additional details on the visit to Cuba following his return on October 24 2012.
 

It should be noted that due to a late flight arrival the visit to the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) in Barbados was not possible. The visit is expected to be conducted at a later date.