New Framework Strengthens Governance of Cayman’s Focus Sports

The Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage has taken steps to strengthen the future of sport in the Cayman Islands through the development of a clear, transparent and evidence-led Focus Sports Framework.

The Cabinet approved Framework aims to ensure that public funding and national support for sport are guided by fair criteria, strong governance, athlete development, child safeguarding, performance potential, national impact and value for money. It will also provide a formal mechanism for selecting, retaining, monitoring and re-evaluating Focus Sports. This programme allows for a time-limited public investment designation, not a permanent guarantee, and ensures that all Focus Sports are subject to annual review.

Under the Framework, the eight existing Focus Sports will be grandfathered during a managed transition period. These sports are Athletics, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Netball, Aquatics, Squash and Volleyball. Each will be required to meet minimum compliance, safeguarding and funding-agreement conditions, and will be re-evaluated for retention of Focus Sport status no later than 31 October 2027.

The Framework also provides for additional sports but there will be no more than ten Cabinet-approved Focus Sports at any given time. This will allow Government to focus resources where they can have the greatest impact, while still recognising that exceptional athletes may emerge from sports outside of the current Focus Sports structure.

A central part of the Framework is the safety and wellbeing of children and young athletes. The development of sport must not only focus on performance, medals and international success; it must also ensure that children participate in safe, positive and well-managed environments.

For this reason, safeguarding will be treated as a core requirement for any sport to receive public support. National Sports Associations, clubs, coaches and volunteers working with children will be expected to demonstrate that appropriate safeguarding policies, safe recruitment procedures, supervision arrangements and reporting processes are in place.

Sports organisations will be required to show that staff have appropriate police clearance and background checks, recognised child safeguarding training, suitable coaching qualifications, and current First Aid and CPR certifications.

Hon. Isaac Rankine, Minister for Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage, said the Framework is an important step in building a more transparent, responsible and sustainable sporting system. “This Framework is about fairness, accountability and opportunity. We want our athletes, parents, coaches and sporting bodies to understand what is required, how decisions are made, and how public funding is linked to performance pathways, good governance, safeguarding and national impact. The introduction of the Framework will help ensure that public funds are used in a way that supports athlete progression, promotes equal opportunity and contributes to the wider development of sport in the Cayman Islands.”

The Ministry has communicated with the National Sports Commission and the Focus Sports and will continue to communicate with National Sporting Associations, Cayman Islands Olympic Committee, athletes and other relevant stakeholders through meetings and the media. These discussions will help ensure that the sporting community understands the new process, the expectations for retention of Focus Sport status, and the opportunities for future development.

The Ministry remains committed to building a sporting system that recognises excellence, supports emerging talent, protects young athletes, reassures parents, strengthens national pride and creates a fairer pathway for Caymanian athletes to progress from local participation to regional and international representation.