The new term of office for Bahamas Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation President Danny Sumner will see him focus on placing the sport…
Sumner confirmed as much with the Bahamas Journal on Monday when he announced the executive slate to assist him for the next four years. The BBFF First Congress was held this past Saturday at Customs Headquarters and elected to assist Sumner with the administrative chores of the organization were: Vice President Dereck Bullard, Secretary General Simone Sawyer, Treasurer Pat Smith, Executive Director Paul Whyly and Public Relations/Marketing Director Chevy Roker.
Also, Arthur Eldon was returned as the president of Abaco, Omar Daley now heads Long island and Clifford Seymour was elected Athletes Representative for New Providence.
Sumner, who has been associated with the sport for more than 20 years, now can continue his platform.
“The schools are a major goal of mine. We started the move into the schools during the last term and the objective during these four years is to complete that programme. It is important for the youth to understand the value of being physically fit and healthy. From an early age, parents and guardians allow our children to take good health for granted. We want to show them just how they can make sure of their conditioning and health.
“In fact, we see physical conditioning and education as a team. They go together,” said Sumner.
The initial item on the agenda for Sumner and his colleagues however is the First BBFF Awards Banquet, scheduled for November 29 at Workers House on Tonique Williams-Darling Highway.
“It might seem a bit of a rush but it’s not quite that way. We have been planning this event for some time now but just wanted to wait for the elections to officially make the announcement. All the details are just about in place and we will have this opportunity to pay tribute to the top bodybuilders and fitness personnel in the country as well as those who have made quality contribution to the sport,” informed Sumner.
There is the possibility also that the BBF will be officially asked by regional directors to host the 2008 Central American and Caribbean Body Building/Fitness championships.
“It is my understanding that Guatemala which was scheduled to host the CAC next year has not risen to the standards required. The World Congress makes the decision. Puerto Rico was the alternative but again, the word is that they are not up to it also. Subsequently, I received a telephone call from Javier Polack who is the head CAC representative of the International bodybuilding/fitness Federation. He told me that the next option is The Bahamas. He and I spoke positively about that but first we will have to wait to receive the official communication. Then, we must talk with our Government through the Ministry of Sports to see if that is something we can look at financially at this time.
“So, nothing is set. But, if we can pull that off, it would indeed be big for Bodybuilding and fitness here in the country and for sports in general,” said Sumner.
The BBFF chief is one of the leading regional personalities in the sport. Presently he also heads the Antilles Region of Bodybuilding/Fitness Nations. The countries in that group other than The Bahamas are Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Mexico, the Cayman islands, Bermuda, the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos islands and Cuba.