Sport in Belize
Encyclopedia
Sports have always played a major part of Belizean culture. While Belize has never been an international sporting power, the nation's athletes have taken their discipline seriously. Sports in the country is plagued by a lack of finance
and sporting facilities, and little emphasis on sports as an integral part of national culture and pride. Nevertheless, sports continue to unify Belizeans on and off the field.
Belize's National Sports Council oversees sports Belize, while the Olympic Committee oversees the country's Olympic Games delegations.
The following is a summary of various sporting disciplines in Belize (for more, see their respective articles):
(previously known as the National Stadium) on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City and named after the famous track and field star of Belizean descent
. Plans have been made to renovate the track and convert the stadium to an indoor one.They are still trying to do this and figure out how to do it.
(BBF)best friend forever. Like football, basketball's highest classification is semi-professional; the league (known as the Belize Basketball Association (BBA) was established in 1992). Matches are frequently held at the junior, senior amateur, high and primary school levels, and even the Mini tournament for little kids and Over-35 tournaments for retired players. There is a basketball court of some sort in every neighborhood and kids can be seen practicing regularly.
Belize has held regional championships in the Caribbean
(1998) and Central America
(2001) but has not been to the Olympics. A number of Belizeans, such as Nigel Miguel, Milt Palacio
, Kenton Paulino and Charles Burgess, play or have played basketball at the college and NBA level in the United States. Paulino led the University of Texas to the 2005 Elite Eight; Burgess played for Texas Tech
. Palacio graduated from Colorado State and played for several NBA teams, most recently the Utah Jazz
; Miguel hails from UCLA and briefly tried out for the New Jersey Nets
in the 1980s.
that starts in San Ignacio and ends in Belize City
. The race occurs annually on Baron Bliss
Day.
The race promotes environmental awareness , while at the same time creates an intense competition for seasoned and amateur athletes alike .The Ruta Maya is not a sport joined by young students without adult supervision.
played in Division Three of the ICC Americas Championship Bracket in 2008.
, held during the Easter weekend since 1928. Other famous races include the KREM New Years' Day Cycling Classic
sponsored by KREM Radio, the National Road Championship, the Labor Day Classic and the World AIDS Day Classic held in honor of Alpheus Williams, former champion and victim of that disease.
(BPFL). The overall governing body of football in Belize is the Football Federation of Belize
(FFB) headed by Dr. Bertie Chimilio. While Belize has enjoyed some success at regional and club level, its international record is notoriously poor.
Softball has traditionally enjoyed the most success abroad for Belize. Teams have routinely medalled in regional competitions in both Central America and the Caribbean and the males have begun to do the same.
Finance
"Finance" is often defined simply as the management of money or “funds” management Modern finance, however, is a family of business activity that includes the origination, marketing, and management of cash and money surrogates through a variety of capital accounts, instruments, and markets created...
and sporting facilities, and little emphasis on sports as an integral part of national culture and pride. Nevertheless, sports continue to unify Belizeans on and off the field.
Belize's National Sports Council oversees sports Belize, while the Olympic Committee oversees the country's Olympic Games delegations.
The following is a summary of various sporting disciplines in Belize (for more, see their respective articles):
Athletics
Track and Field in Belize is run by its Amateur Athletics Association. The main facility for track and field events in Belize is the Marion Jones Sports ComplexMarion Jones Sports Complex
The Marion Jones Sports Complex, previously the National Stadium, is a multi-use stadium in Belize City, Belize. It is used mostly for football matches, track and field and cycling...
(previously known as the National Stadium) on Princess Margaret Drive in Belize City and named after the famous track and field star of Belizean descent
Marion Jones
Marion Lois Jones , also known as Marion Jones-Thompson, is a former world champion track and field athlete, and a former professional basketball player for Tulsa Shock in the WNBA...
. Plans have been made to renovate the track and convert the stadium to an indoor one.They are still trying to do this and figure out how to do it.
Basketball
Basketball probably has the biggest people in Belize after football. It is governed by the Belize Basketball FederationBelize Basketball Federation
The Belize Basketball Federation is the governing body for basketball in Belize and a recognized member of FIBA. The BBF functions as a nonprofit organization that officially represents Belize in the sport of basketball. It consists of nine districts and school associations across Belize and...
(BBF)best friend forever. Like football, basketball's highest classification is semi-professional; the league (known as the Belize Basketball Association (BBA) was established in 1992). Matches are frequently held at the junior, senior amateur, high and primary school levels, and even the Mini tournament for little kids and Over-35 tournaments for retired players. There is a basketball court of some sort in every neighborhood and kids can be seen practicing regularly.
Belize has held regional championships in the Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
(1998) and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
(2001) but has not been to the Olympics. A number of Belizeans, such as Nigel Miguel, Milt Palacio
Milt Palacio
Milton Sigmund Palacio , referred to as Milt Palacio, is a Belizean American professional basketball player. He currently plays with the pro club Obradoiro CAB in Spain. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, to Belizean parents and is a Belizean citizen.-College career:Palacio attended...
, Kenton Paulino and Charles Burgess, play or have played basketball at the college and NBA level in the United States. Paulino led the University of Texas to the 2005 Elite Eight; Burgess played for Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 15 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
. Palacio graduated from Colorado State and played for several NBA teams, most recently the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
; Miguel hails from UCLA and briefly tried out for the New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1980s.
Boxing
Boxing gained a niche in Belize in the 1930s, when weekend fight cards generally packed the premier boxing arena in Belize, Birds' Isle. Prominent Belizean boxers include lightweight Ludwig Lightburn and welterweight Fitzroy Guisseppi (originally of Trinidad and Jamaica). Beginning in the mid-1980s, boxing largely died out, and now only occasional amateur cards are held.Canoeing
The local association sponsors a number of races per year, including the La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, a 180 mile, four-day canoe race on the Belize RiverBelize River
Belize River is a 180-mile river in Belize that drains more than one-quarter of the country as it winds along the northern edge of the Maya Mountains across the center of the country to the sea just north of Belize City . However, the Belize River/Mopan River Catchment contains over 45 percent of...
that starts in San Ignacio and ends in Belize City
Belize City
Belize City is the largest city in the Central American nation of Belize. Unofficial estimates place the population of Belize City at 70,000 or more. It is located at the mouth of the Belize River on the coast of the Caribbean. The city is the country's principal port and its financial and...
. The race occurs annually on Baron Bliss
Baron Bliss
Henry Edward Ernest Victor Bliss, commonly known as Baron Bliss , was a British-born traveller who willed some two million U.S...
Day.
The race promotes environmental awareness , while at the same time creates an intense competition for seasoned and amateur athletes alike .The Ruta Maya is not a sport joined by young students without adult supervision.
Cricket
Cricket is mainly established in the Belize Rural area, where local villages sponsor cricket teams. The national tournament is held in the Belize District from January to May. Belize's national cricket teamBelizean cricket team
The Belizean national cricket team represents the country of Belize in international cricket matches. Belize has been an affiliate member of the ICC since 1997 but did not make their international cricket debut until 2004, playing in the qualifying tournament for the ICC Americas Championship...
played in Division Three of the ICC Americas Championship Bracket in 2008.
Cycling
Cycling takes place year round on the nation's highways. It is mainly amateur, but Belizeans have placed well regionally. The most famous race is the Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling ClassicCross Country Cycling Classic
The Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic, usually shortened to the Cross Country Cycling Classic or "Cross Country" for short, is a one-day amateur cycling race held in Belize every year during the Easter holidays...
, held during the Easter weekend since 1928. Other famous races include the KREM New Years' Day Cycling Classic
KREM New Years' Day Cycling Classic
The KREM New Year's Day Cycling Classic is a single day road cycling race held in Belize since 1992 on New Year's Day, January 1, and is thus the first race on Belize's cycling calendar. The race was restricted to elite and junior men until 2001, when females became eligible to ride...
sponsored by KREM Radio, the National Road Championship, the Labor Day Classic and the World AIDS Day Classic held in honor of Alpheus Williams, former champion and victim of that disease.
Football
Football has roots reaching back to mid century in amateur competitions, mostly held in Belize City. In 1991 Belize's first (semi)professional league, the Belize Semiprofessional Football League, was formed with teams from all districts save Stann Creek and Toledo, who joined later. This league is now known as the Belize Premier Football LeagueBelize Premier Football League
The Belize Premier Football League is the premier division of football in Belize sanctioned by the Football Federation of Belize...
(BPFL). The overall governing body of football in Belize is the Football Federation of Belize
Football Federation of Belize
The Football Federation of Belize , formerly known as the Belize National Football Association and founded in 1980, is the governing body of football in Belize. It has been a member of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , CONCACAF and Union Centroamericana de Fútbol in 1986.-...
(FFB) headed by Dr. Bertie Chimilio. While Belize has enjoyed some success at regional and club level, its international record is notoriously poor.
Softball
Softball's governing body for male and females is the Softball Federation. It is most popular in Belize and Cayo Districts and is gaining a following in the South. After local tournaments are complete a national champion is crowned and the teams prepare for next season. The local tournament usually includes competitors from various organizations, referred to as the interoffice competition.Softball has traditionally enjoyed the most success abroad for Belize. Teams have routinely medalled in regional competitions in both Central America and the Caribbean and the males have begun to do the same.