Sport - Haiti Observer Blog

The government of Haiti (GOH) is always looking for new ways to grow its economy. Of the sectors of tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing, most of its time and money has been spent on attracting tourist dollars. Now the question posed by the GOH is, can a newly-created sports sector revive the Haitian economy?

In response, GOH ministries and other government departments are holding the 1st Sport Business Forum at the Petion-Ville Royal Oasis Hotel. The forum will convene sports executives and former and current players in professional sports: National Basketball Association (NBA), National Basketball Retired Players (NBRPA), and Harlem Globetrotters.

Besides participating in the forum, the NBRPA are touring as Legends of Basketball. They will visit hospitals and healthcare clinics in the poverty-stricken Central Plateau Region. They are partnering with Medishare, which is committed to offering a full complement of healthcare services in the area.

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It was long and it was bloody, but, for Adonis Stevenson, the new big storm on the boxing front, defeat was not an option in his fight against his once undefeated contender, Tavoris Cloud.

Months ago, both talented men matched up fairly equally, with zero defeats under Cloud's belt and many consecutive victories racked up by Stevenson. Plus, they both had enough youth, vim and vigor to make the boxing world their oyster.

And then they faced each other. 31 year old Cloud, a former world champion hailing from America, took on Adonis 'Superman' Stevenson, who, in his last bid to defend his world title, had knocked out his then opponent, Chad Dawson, also from the States, in just over a minute. Cloud, however, with his impressive record and years of experience, didn't prove such an easy fight.

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The name Don King is almost synonymous with the sport of boxing, but one of the prolific trainer's pupils, Bermane Stiverne, has filed suit against the manager on the claim that King forced him to sign a contract with his Don King Productions, an act which breached the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.

The boxer, Bermane Stiverne, who was born in Haiti, states that on the 26th of April, 2011, he met with the defendants, including Don King, his production company, King's stepson, Carl King, an associate of King's, Dana Jamison and Elite Sports and Entertainment Management, to sign a fight agreement with a King Productions fighter, Ray Austin.

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A total of five Haitians will be participating in the New York Marathon scheduled for today (November 3, 2013). Three men and two women who have been sponsored by J/P Haitian Relief Organization are making the Haitian team along side with actress Pamela Anderson.

What is your opinion about our participation in the New York Marathon?

Wouldn't it be interesting to see one of the Haitians coming in first place?

I still believe that they will be representing Haiti very well. Each of the five runners got their position back in June by finishing in the top spots of a 20-kilometer qualifying race in Haiti. The marathon begins in Staten Island then goes into Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx, to finish back to Manhattan's Central Park.

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With Haiti's transportation system, filled as it is with well-occupied moto-taxis on unpaved roads, a little mountain bike riding fits in well in the country that makes nail-biting transportation an everyday occurrence. Called Mountain Bike Ayiti, the stage race is being put on for its second year in the country in January of next year, following the success of the first event early this year.

Having drawn the attention of riders from home and from abroad like, Marla Streb, Hans Rey, and the race's winner, Sonya Looney this year, the race will offer up a challenge to the riders who traverse the aptly titled 'land of mountains' next year. They are bound to find great adventure riding through the mountains above Port-au-Prince and along the coast of Cotes des Arcadins.

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President Michel Martelly visited the department of North-East including the town of Ouanaminthe on Tuesday, November 19, 2013. He was accompanied by Magalie Racine, the Minister of Sports and Civic Activities, Mr. Rony Pierre, the Mayor of the city, Jacques Thomas, the Minister of the Environment, the deputy of Ouanaminthe, Mr. Lucner Noel and many other bureaucrats and senior government officials. There, on this trip, he opened the door of the largest sports complex at Ouanaminthe, on the Haiti border town.

The sports complex, in addition to meeting the standards, has a seating capacity for 500 spectators. It includes a soccer field, a court for basketball and a mixed area for volleyball and tennis. Moreover, there are adequate facilities for physical training, cloakrooms and administrative office. While inaugurating he mentioned that if you have proper land and resources, you can develop your community yourself. Thereafter, the Head of State renewed his commitments to build adequate infrastructure under the youth development program all across the country--this is a program in consistence with government's pledge for social and health security of the nation.

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Do not let yourself fouled by the recent performance of the Haitian Soccer team, the days of great Haitian soccer seem to be well behind us. Haiti is unable to give birth to people like Emmanuel Sanon, Phillippe Vorbe, Ernst Jean-Joseph, Henry Francillon, Arsene Auguste, Pierre Bayonne, Roger Saint-Vil, just to name a few.

You may think that I am dreaming but the reality is that what we were so good at doing in the past just stays in the past.

We were the number one in soccer for the Caribbean

With sadness, I am announcing that this will never happen again. This position of being king in the Caribbean as far as soccer is concerned has slipped away from our hands.

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Five of Haiti's most determined runners are gearing up to travel to the United States where they will take part in the New York City Marathon and make history just for their participation. The team will have their names remembered as being the first representatives for the country of Haiti in the New York City Marathon.

While the slow and steady style race is to be run on Sunday, November 3rd, the group of three men and two women will journey to New York early, set to arrive on October 29, to acclimatize themselves and, no doubt, also get acquainted with the city.

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Canadian boxer Adonis Stevenson, is a jewel in the Haitian belt as he hails from the country's capital, Port-au-Prince. Born on the 22nd of September, 1977, the nearly 36 year old boxer has spent his career with the nickname of 'Superman', a moniker adopted because of his dominance in the super-middleweight category he began in. Though he now fights more often in the light-heavyweight category, Stevenson continues to make his name popular, holding a 33-5 record in amateur contests.

The current light heavyweight champion of WBC, Lineal and The Ring, Stevenson made the change to his new category in June of this year, when he took on the former champion of the titles, Chad Dawson. After missing the chance at a super middle-weight title, Stevenson faced off with Dawson and took him down very quickly in the first round with a left hook. Stevenson was awarded his eight consecutive victory, since his one and only defeat, by knockout, though Dawson made it off the mat before the referee's count to eight.

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At only 17 years old, Victoria Duval, the Haitian American professional player of tennis is off to an impressive start after winning her First-Round Match at the US Open. Her recent victory is a testament to the difference a year can make in a dedicated athlete's life. Just last year, the youngster was disappointed by the loss to Kim Clijsters in straight sets during her first try at the US Open. This time around, she saw her first triumph, over Samantha Stosur of Australia, Champion of The Open in 2011, and Top 15 player, with scores of 5-7, 6-4, and 6-3.

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