History Making Month in Politics and Sports

Continued from page 19 spected by all nations.

Politically President Tsai placed Belize in the spotlight with her second visit to the country while in sports, Oscar Quiroz, Jr. and Demetrie Myers did the same for the nation this month as well. On Holy Saturday Quiroz, Jr. brought the garland back home for the first time in five years, when he took first place in the 93rd annual Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling classic, which is the one of largest sporting events in the country. The champion Oscar Quiroz, Jr. finished the race 6th last year. He has participated in the event for the past eight years. Fourteen year old Demetrie Myers brought home two gold medals from the 2023 CARIFTA games when he took first place in the U17 Boys 1,500m and 3,000m. Mr. Myers is originally from Sand Hill in the Belize District. Both of his parents are born Belizeans. Big congratulations to the two outstanding athletes. They are further proof that with ambition, hard work, family support, and the support of their organizations as well as the government, the benefits of sports for the youths, the community, and revenue for the country is limitless.

Investment in sports means less crime including gun violence, less gangs, less at-risk youths, less poverty and more educated, law-abiding, and productive citizens—betterment for more families in the society. With better planning, and competitive matches, athletes, fans, sponsors benefit. Football, basketball, cricket, horse racing, La Ruta Maya River Challenge, cycling and several other sports are attracting larger crowds that require a wide range of services and products. Sports promotes economic activity and growth in many areas for the benefit of the country.

To reap the many benefits of sports with hardworking athletes like Oscar Quiroz, Jr. and Demetrie Myers among others, as a nation, we must do everything possible to contribute the maximum amount of resources to the development of sports from primary school up to professional and the like. For more of our athletes to shine locally, regionally, and internationally. they deserve the best possible organizations, the best possible facilities, and maximum support from GoB. This government must therefore be given credit for increasing the budget for sports.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Transport and the National Sports Council also deserve credit for having a meeting with all the sporting organizations in the country to discuss their challenges and successes and identify ways how they can work together with available resources to improve sports thought out the na- tion. Rewards or benefits are always a great incentive to do one’s best with any undertaking.

It is therefore gratifying to know that for winning the 93rd Cross Coun- try cycling race Oscar Quiroz, Jr. received a cash prize of $10,000.00, in addition to the garland. Despite their outstanding victories in sports this month of April both Oscar Quiroz and Demetrie Myers are still not well known.

As was done for President Tasi, I fully support the call for both athletes to be invited to the Prime Minister’s office for a special recognition and thank you from P.M. Briceño for making us proud to be Belizeans. I also fully support the suggestion that both Quiroz and Myers be gifted with a house lot each in an accessible area, and that every effort be made to get them to visit as many schools to share their success stories. Finally, I fully support the suggestion that the prize for winning a gold medal at CARIFA and other major sporting events regionally or internationally be increased as much as possible to help motivate other Belizeans to pursue their dreams in sports, and other fields.