Sports Development Foundation

SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 6 I JOIN wholeheartedly with the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) in celebrating 25 years, during which the SDF has served unswervingly the development of sport in Jamaica in a variety of tangible ways. We just have to look at the building and upgrading of sporting infrastruc- ture done by the SDF and the volume of financial assistance that it has pro- vided to the national sporting bodies. The SDF has developed a reputation for making assistance available with- out fail, when called upon to do so. From the relatively small number of 11 sporting bodies at the start of the foundation’s life in 1995, the number has grown to over 60 at the end of 2020. And, as expected, the build- ing of infrastructure while funding so many organisations would not have been without challenges, but with commitment and determination, the SDF has got the job done over these past 25 years. This commitment remains even as we explore ways of increasing resources, fully recognising that sports make a major contribution to the Jamaican economy. I feel proud, pleased and privileged to have the SDF as one of the agen- cies under my ministry. I wish to congratulate the directors and staff of the Foundation, as well as the sporting bodies that have worked closely with the SDF to achieve the outstanding results that we have witnessed. Let us, as we celebrate this 25th anniversary of the SportsDevelopment Foundation, push on towards the greater achievements for the next 25 years, inspiredby evengreater determi- nation and commitment to the devel- opment of sport in Jamaica. I wish you all God’s continued blessings. HON OLIVIA GRANGE, CD, MP Minister of Culture, Gender Entertainment and Sport Push on towards greater achievements for the next 25 years M Y DIRECT association with the Sports Development Foundation began in 2016. I accepted the privilege to serve for a two-year period at the time. It is now 2021 and I am still here. I have become completely enam- oured with the role and potential of the institution. It is my distinct pleasure to be part of this 25-years-plus historic achieve- ment. I have come to really appreciate the role of sport in the development of a society like our Jamaica. There can be no second-guessing the role that sport plays in our daily lives. Equally, the contribution of the SDF continues to be outstanding. Tobe able towatch a small groupof workers, from one office in Kingston, build out sporting infrastructure of quality across the length and breadth of our island has become, for me, an absolute fascination. We all continue todreamof whatmay bepossible if we were able toharness greater resources. Aswe congratulate all whohave con- tributed to the successes of the SDF through the years, it may be worth- while to turn our minds to accessing funding outside of the Government’s resources. Thismay bewhat it will take to make the success of the institution move to that other level. GEORGE SOUTAR, CD, QC SDF Chairman SDF’s contribution to sports continues to be outstanding