NASSAU, The Bahamas -- The Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture is pleased to launch National Sports Heritage Month 2020 (NSHM 2020), under the theme, “We Rise - Sports Strong Throughout the Islands of The Bahamas.” 

Each year, the month of November is reserved for the celebration, promotion and awareness of activities designed to showcase the contributions of sports to the national development of The Bahamas.  It is also a time to reflect the unity of the Bahamian sporting community; exhibit the value of sports disciplines to the overall development of our people; and to congratulate the outstanding performances of Bahamian athletes hailing from all islands of The Bahamas. 

Notwithstanding the presence of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Department of Sports, together with our partners, is committed to acknowledging and honoring the valuable contributions of sports. In and out of crisis, sports continues to serve as a beacon of life, hope, and spiritual upliftment for the Bahamian people and the world at large.

People the world over are experiencing tremendous setbacks, hardships and suffering, as a result of the Coronavirus:  Yet, ‘sports’ has always proven to be an inspiring force in challenging situations.  Amidst this period of uncertainty, Bahamian athletes continue to shine, excel and mark the manner of our bearing:  Thus, we must rise to the occasion, and demonstrate the resilience synonymous with the heritage of the Bahamian people. 

We will reflect on the outstanding exploits of our sporting trailblazers and simultaneously celebrate the accomplishments of our 2020 outstanding athletic elite performances, via a virtual platform.

Among the NSHM 2020 Calendar of Events, this year we honor, posthumously, Bahamian Sports Heroes such as baseball giant Andre Rodgers and track and field legend Tommy Robinson, both of whom have stadiums named in their honour.  Significantly, we also celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of our Golden Girls’ and their historic relay triumph during the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games.  These sporting greats and accomplishments represent the pillars that strengthen the foundation of the Bahamas’ Sports Heritage and have built the Bahamian World Class Sports Brand.  Indeed, they are feats we must never forget.

 
During the month of celebrations, we will air documentaries to capture the significance of special sports occasions, inspire a “National Vitamin ‘C’ Challenge” -- representing a health focused response to the pandemic; in addition to daily multi-tiered Fitness Guru Exercise Sessions to be aired for half-hour 8:30am each morning on ZNS, Channel 211.

Moreover, we will engage public conversations of the Pandemic’s impact on various disciplines of the sports community, and culminate with a public vote for the Countdown of the top 2020 Sports Champions.   

Activities will be showcased via virtual media platforms incorporating the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture Facebook and YouTube Social media pages, in addition to ZNS and other local broadcasting networks.     

The Ministry invites the general public to tune in, participate in the celebrations, vote for the top 2020 Sports Champions, and join the Department of Sports as together ‘We Rise’ and remain ‘Strong’ in every island of The Bahamas.