While measurement of the nation’s economic performance takes center-place annually, the several features of sporting events are reported in a manner that does not lend for providing an overall assessment of Antigua and Barbuda’s potential as a sporting nation.

My Government is determined to provide those youth with potential to win, in both regional and international sporting events, the infrastructure required to make the athletes vault over the competitors from larger States.

Our cricketers have been very successful in making names for themselves, over the past fifty years.

My Government is determined to ensure that in track and field events, whether at CARIFTA or the Americas, moving Antigua and Barbuda to Olympic medalists is our nation’s objective. That is the ambition of a “lifestyle superpower”.

Throughout communities across our 170 square miles of terra firma, it is my Government’s intention to ensure that every facet of sporting yields excellence.

The renaissance in sports is to be measured against our history of performance. Those who swim and pursue water sports are not to be disadvantaged.

An Olympic-size swimming pool is shortly to be completed at the grounds adjacent to the ABICE, giving swimmers the opportunity to achieve excellence.

Though baseball is seen as a sport which the Spanish-speaking population enjoys, every effort is to be made to ensure that the teams from Antigua and Barbuda can successfully compete regionally, within the Americas and globally.

The Honourable Dwayne George, himself an outstanding athlete who has successfully competed in many fora, will lead an invigorated Ministry of Sports and Creative Industries.

His known appetite for success, whether on stage or in electoral politics, is sure to lead him into making Antigua and Barbuda shine globally in sports.