INSPORTS chairman to help Bodybuilding Association

AS the financially-strapped Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilidng and Fitness Association (JABBFA) put on a brave face for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, INSPORTS chairman Dr Winston Dawes has taken up their cudgels.

"I'm going to sit down with them, look at their budget and see whatever contact we have in the private sector to try and assist them," said Dr Dawes.

However, Dawes said a national sports policy would insist that sporting associations bidding to host international tournaments notify the government whose support they want.
"We have been embarrassed and it has happened a few times. My advice to sporting associations is that before you bid for any Games that they hope to get government support from, tell us well in advance so that we can make plans.

"Each year we probably have basically a billion dollars in request from sporting associations. We also have to give to government agencies for their sports programmes and we also have to build infrastructure," he explained.

According to Dr Dawes, governemnt support would not only be monetary, but in waiving and duties and tournament planning and guidance.

Regarding the Bodybuilding and Fitness Championshpis, Dr Dawes suggested that the assocation move the event from the Jamaica Pegasus to GC Foster College, but the association said "it was too late to do that now".

"I was aware only of the Championships in the last week-and-a-half to two weeks when urgent call went out for $5 million. $5 million does not exist in sports," stated Dr Dawes, a noted medical surgeon in May Pen, Clarendon.

"INSPORT has no money; it is bankrupt. SDF has made a commitment to help out all sporting associations, so it's not like any money is available," he explained.

Given enough time, said Dr Dawes, sporting associations' difficulties in hosting international tournaments and needing government assistance would be much reduced.