National Sports Council holds public consultation on new National Sports Policy

The National Sports Council of Belize (NSC) held its fourth public consultation on Wednesday, August 12th, at 11AM at the Angel Nuñez Auditorium in San Pedro Town. The consultation is part of the development of a new National Sports Policy and strategic plan intended to guide the country’s sporting sector over the next 10 years. The meeting brought together athletes, coaches, school representatives, club officials, and community leaders to share their concerns and ideas for the future of sports in Belize.
The consultation was designed to gather feedback from those directly involved in sports to ensure the new policy reflects the realities and needs of communities across Belize, including San Pedro. Participants discussed access to sports facilities, funding shortfalls, coaching support, school sports, athlete development, and the need for stronger systems to help young athletes progress from grassroots programs to elite competition.
Much of the discussion focused on inclusion and opportunities, particularly for athletes from San Pedro who often must travel to the mainland to participate in major sporting events. Participants noted that transportation costs can limit participation and prevent some talented young athletes from accessing national programs. Schools also face challenges with Physical Education instruction, coaching, equipment, and adequate training spaces. Attendees further raised concerns about the limited number of basketball and volleyball courts, the need for additional football facilities, and the need for better maintenance of existing sports infrastructure.
Yashmin Quan, Communications, Marketing and Public Relations Consultant with the National Sports Council of Belize, said the consultations are intended to gather community-level feedback before the draft policy is finalized. “We’re doing this consultation to gather more feedback from the people who are on the ground,” she said. Quan added that the council wants to identify what support is missing, understand the challenges communities face, and determine whether the final draft adequately reflects public input before it is submitted to the government for approval.
The consultation team included NSC Sports Liaison Officer Vanessa Williams, Deputy Director Michael Jenkins, Communications, Marketing and Public Relations Consultant Yashmin Quan, and Sherlan Cabralis and Kervin Jean of Synek Consultancy, who are working alongside the NSC in developing the policy.
According to the council, the new policy will focus on improved governance, sustainable financing, stronger sporting institutions, quality facilities, athlete development, and increased participation. In San Pedro, these broader goals were paired with practical recommendations, including greater support for school sports, additional coaching workshops, stronger partnerships with the Ministry of Education, improved maintenance of sporting facilities, and more incentives for private-sector sponsorship. Participants expressed hope that a well-implemented national policy could address longstanding barriers facing island athletes and create clearer pathways for young Belizeans to progress from community and school sports to national and international competition.