Photos: Govt Awards $246K To Athletes
[Updated] Bermuda’s young athletes and coaches received $246,000 in sponsorship awards to advance their sports goals at the National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Programme Awards ceremony.
“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 Owen Darrell as he highlighted the recent awards ceremony for Bermuda’s junior and elite athletes.
A Government spokesperson said, “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.”
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.”
Update May 29, 11.19am: A spokesperson said, “Here are the lists of award recipients.
The “2024 National Junior Sponsorship Awardees are:
- Robin Selley from the sport of Archery, received three thousand and eighty-one dollars. [$3,081]
- Elijah Daley from the sport of Swimming received three thousand one hundred and ninety-two dollars. [$3,192]
- Cameron Basden from the sport of Basketball received two thousand, six hundred and seventy dollars. [$2,670]
- Aeziah Devine from the sport of Motorcycle Racing received three thousand five hundred dollars. [$3,500]
- Jake Smith from the sport of Athletics received two thousand, and twenty-two dollars. [$2,022]
- Tyler James from the sport of Equestrian received four thousand, six hundred and twenty-five dollars. [$4,625]
- Aiden Simmons from the sport of Motocross received one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-five dollars. [$1,995]
- Samir Tavaras-Place from the sport of Rugby received two thousand, one hundred and fifty-three dollars. [$2,153]
- Miguel Power from the spot of Sailing received two thousand, one hundred and seventy – six dollars. [$2,176]
- Enzi Johnston from the sport of Sanshou received two thousand, two hundred and twenty-three dollars. [$2,223]
- Hailey Trott from the sport of Volleyball received two thousand, six hundred and sixty-seven dollars. [$2,667]
- The Bermuda Bicycle Association, Bermuda Cricket Board, Bermuda Hockey Federation, Bermuda Football Association, Bermuda Triathlon Association and Pickleball Association of Bermuda were all recipients of funding for coaches. [$19,329]
“The 2024 awardees for the Elite Athlete Sponsorship are:
- Adriana Penruddocke, Bermuda Sailing Association, awarded fifteen thousand dollars. [$15,000]
- Aeziah Divine, Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Association, awarded five thousand dollars. [$5,000]
- Caitlyn Bobb, Bermuda National Athletics Association awarded five thousand dollars. [$5,000]
- Camerin Pickering, National Archery Association of Bermuda, awarded eight thousand dollars. [$8,000]
- Conor White, Bermuda Bicycle Association, awarded fifteen thousand dollars. [$15,000]
- Dage Minors, Bermuda National Athletics Assocation, awarded six thousand dollars. [$6,000]
- Daniel Phillips, Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, awarded eight thousand dollars. [$8,000]
- Krista Dyer, Bermuda Sanshou Association, awarded five thousand dollars. [$5,000]
- Erica Hawley, Bermuda Triathlon Association, awarded ten thousand dollars. [$10,000]
- Gabriella Arnold, Bermuda Bicycle Association awarded seven thousand dollars. [$7,000]
- Jack Harvey, Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association, awarded five thousand dollars. [$5,000]
- Emma Harvey, Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association, awarded eight thousand dollars. [$8,000]
- Jaydon Roberts, National Archery Association of Bermuda, awarded three thousand, five hundred dollars. [$3,500]
- Nicholas Narraway, Bermuda Bicycle Association, awarded eight thousand, five hundred dollars. [$8,500]
- Jessica Lewis, Bermuda Paralympic Association, awarded fifteen thousand dollars. [$15,000]
- Robin Horsefield, Bermuda Bicycle Association, awarded two thousand dollars. [$2,000]
- Kaden Hopkins, Bermuda Bicycle Association, awarded seven thousand dollars. [$7,000]
- Sebastian Kempe, Bermuda Sailing Association, awarded ten thousand dollars. [$10,000]
- Kaelin Cox, Bermuda Sanshou Association, awarded five thousand dollars. [$5,000]
- Tariq Simons, Bermuda Lawn Tennis Association, awarded five thousand dollars. [$5,000]
- Tyler Smith, Bermuda Triathlon Association, awarded nine thousand five hundred dollars. [$9,500]
- Jahniko Francis, Bermuda Rugby Football Union, awarded five thousand dollars. [$5,000]
- Yushae DeSilva – Andrade, Boccia Bermuda, awarded ten thousand dollars. [$10,000]
- Campbell Patton, Bermuda Sailing Association, awarded ten thousand dollars. [$10,000]
“The two Flora Duffy Award winners are:
- Aiden Kendall, Bermuda Rugby Football Union, $7,000
- Sam Williamson, Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association, $3,000
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Surely this should be means tested. We shouldn’t be supporting athletes who have no need of financial support.
It is means tested – they are the best at what they do. I normally do not comment on sports-related stories except if the lovely and accomplished Hazel Clark (heart be still) is involved but dang, man. Spoken like a benchwarmer. These are not participation awards.
Congratulations to everyone.
Ok think of it this way. I’m the Bermuda Tax Payer. I know that the progress of many of those awarded money will be unaffected by these amounts because their parents can easily afford it. Some attended overseas specialist schools where fees are tens of thousands a year. Are the parents happy, no not really, but that isn’t my concern. My concern is helping Bermudian sport as deeply as possible, and maintaining the Government purse.
So what are you suggesting? Punish the many to avoid enriching the few? Discrimination based on perceived wealth? if the latter, whose perception of wealth matters?
Not perceived wealth, actual wealth. You give 2 grand to parents who have spent 50 grand each year on fees, it don’t make sense. Use it to make a difference, not to pay for a trip to Florida at spring break. Give it to families who really need it, or don’t give it all.
And how do you propose that “actual wealth” be determined? Should everyone in Bermuda be required by law to disclose their world-wide wealth?
By annual earnings of the parents, like any means testing. We all pay payroll tax, it isn’t hard.
Payroll tax does not measure income. Rental income, for example, is not subject to payroll tax. Nor is investment income.
Using your analogy, if someone has a six-figure salary (like many Bermuda Government employees) and wins Powerball, MegaMillions, or the UK National Lottery, they should be denied winnings.
That whale don’t swim.
It is good to see money being distributed so widely. My recollection of the last 25 years is that money was given only to specific sports at a time.
I remain concerned about giving away money like this when we are in so much debt, but if money is going to be given away I am pleased to see that the give-away is not targeted at one specific sport.
No you’re thinking about the oba giving away taxpayer money to rich billionaires for a sailboat race. Hopefully the FDM can become the opposition next election and the OBA can join the racist UBP at the bottom of the ocean.
That free money was great !
I dressed up all preppy with my nautical threads and put on a Kiwi accent and got in line with the rest of them at handout time and I got $200,000 for just fooling them that I was a rich billionaire .
You’ll make up any stories to assuage your hate that it was a great event and there was an actual ROI. Unlike anything that this present bunch has done.
Sorry Toodle-oo, the official PLP line is that the KPMG report is a pack of lies.
What are you talking about?
I just said “It is good to see money being distributed so widely.”
But this government doesn’t do anything for the youth?
It appears it just did.
It always does.
No, it rarely does.
Explain the public educational system, if you think your government does anything for anyone but themselves.