A modest gathering witnessed the annual IOC/NOC Awards Evening last Wednesday night, June 19, at the Holy Redeemer Parish Hall in Belize City, where former Ministers of Sports and present Federation Presidents were awarded plaques of appreciation for their contribution to sports development in Belize. Not all awardees were present for the occasion. Minister of Sports Hon. Herman Longsworth was on hand to issue the plaques on behalf of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), and he was himself also given a special plaque of appreciation by NOC President Hilly Martinez.

In his address, after lauding the awardees, NOC President Martinez pleaded with all federation executives to prepare and forward their project requests for assistance to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), as only three federations had sent in their requests during the last fiscal year. And he took the opportunity to announce that the Football Federation of Belize (FFB) had thus won approval for a grant of $30,000.00 from the IOC. FFB executive member Marlon Kuylen was on hand to receive the check for the FFB.

There had been a few discrepancies in the invitation list of proposed awardees, and today, Administrative Assistant of the Belize Olympic Committee, Ms. Jackie Valdez explained that only federation presidents who had served in their post for the past 3 years were eligible for the IOC/NOC award. Below is the official list of awardees for 2013:

Ministers of Sports – Mr. Hector Silva, Min. Herman Longsworth, Min. John Saldivar, Rt. Hon. Said Musa, Hon. Francis Fonseca, Mr. Cordel Hyde, Mr. Ruben Campos, Mr. Marcel Cardona.

Presidents of National Federations – Mr. Paul Thompson (Basketball), Mr. Emil Moreno (Cycling), Mr. Owen Meighan (Fencing), Mr. Herman Pastor (Karate), Mr. Patrick Henry (Softball), Mr. Charles B. Hyde, Sr. (Sailing), Mr. Charles Chavannes, Sr. (Shooting), Mr. Edward Musa, Sr. (Tennis), Mr. Arturo Vasquez (Table Tennis), Mr. Giovanni Alamilla (Triathlon), Mr. Allan Sharp (Volleyball).