Haitian Sport Leaders Hopeful About Sporting Future

(ATR) The Sport for Hope Center in Port-au-Prince, Haiti is dramatically impacting the lives of young athletes, top-level sportsmen and other recreational users.

A joint initiative between the IOC, its stakeholders and the Haitian government, the multi-sport facility was inaugurated in July 2014, four years after a 2010 earthquake devastated the small Caribbean nation.

Haitian NOC secretary general and Panam Sports executive committee member Alain Jean-Pierre says that the center has inspired Haitians by providing a tangible and symbolic impact in lifting spirits and helping to overcome travesties from the natural disaster.

"Haitians are resilient – we are resilient to catastrophes, we are resilient to all the bad things happening, but we are always confident," Jean-Pierre tells Around the Rings at the Panam Sports General Assembly in Lima, Peru. "I always see a glass of water half full, not empty, so I think Haitians have a bright future.

"The Olympic Center is a jewel – it’s a $25 million project and we’re seeing new athletes and young athletes," he added about the facility, built on the outskirts of the capital, near the sprawling post-quake slum of Canaan.

"When you go there you see 600 athletes, kids practicing sport every day. Each (sport) federation goes there and tries to see what they can do with those kids, so I think we have a bright future."

Haitian NOC president Hans Larsen said the numerous social benefits that the Sport for Hope Center has given to Haiti cannot be overstated.

"We have a lot of problems in Haiti," Larsen tells ATR in Lima. "I think that sports can help people to live together. Sport can contribute to peace.

"It can bring kids together without any violence and this is very important for us.

"Through sports we can change life, we can change mentalities, we can build friendships."

IOC president Thomas Bach was joined in opening the Sport for Hope Center in the Haitian capital by Republic of Haiti prime minister Laurent Lamothe, president Michel Martelly and former United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon in July 2014.

New NOC Headquarters

A new NOC headquarters is also in Haiti’s future with the assistance of funding through Panam Sports Solidarity programs.

"It’s very difficult for many to understand that most of the NOCs from the Americas don’t even have their own headquarters," Jean-Pierre said.

Panam Sports president Neven Ilic reiterated the body’s unwavering commitment to financially assist small member nations at last week’s general assembly in Lima.

"That is one big step that Panam Sports is helping with – it’s a major step forward and we have to push it," Jean-Pierre said.

"The money is allocated for this quadrennial – the four years period. I hope they will find some resources for the next quadrennial so we can have other similar projects."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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