Hinds proposes standalone Ministry of Sport to capitalise on multi-trillion-dollar global industry

Opposition Spokesperson on Labour and Sport, Wavell Hinds has proposed the creation of a standalone Ministry of Sport, arguing that Jamaica is failing to properly capitalise on the enormous economic potential of the global sports industry.

Making his contribution to the 2026 Sectoral Debate in Parliament, Hinds said Jamaica continues to treat sport as a ceremonial or cultural activity instead of the powerful economic industry it has become globally.

“Sport is no longer simply recreation,” Hinds declared. “Sport is tourism. Sport is exports. Sport is a foreign exchange. Sport is economic growth.”

According to Hinds, the global sports economy is currently valued at approximately US$2.3 trillion and is projected to grow to US$8.8 trillion by 2050. Despite Jamaica’s international sporting reputation, he argued that the country remains structurally unprepared to compete within that expanding market.

“We own one of the strongest sporting brands in the world through Jamaican speed, athletic excellence, and our global track legacy, yet we have almost no supporting sports-industry infrastructure to monetise that advantage,” he said.

Hinds noted that several countries are aggressively positioning themselves as sports training and sports-tourism hubs, while Jamaica continues operating without a coherent long-term strategy.

He pointed to Antigua’s recent investment in sports science and rehabilitation facilities, as well as emerging opportunities within international pre-season training markets, particularly as geopolitical instability affects traditional sporting destinations such as Dubai. “Other countries are actively building systems to attract global sports capital, international teams, elite athletes, and tourism revenue,” Hinds said. “Meanwhile, Jamaica is still functioning with fragmented policies and outdated administrative structures.”

The Opposition spokesperson argued that the current arrangement, where sport exists within a broader mega-ministry alongside gender, culture, and entertainment, has prevented the sector from receiving the focused policy attention required for serious economic expansion.

He proposed that a dedicated Ministry of Sport should be tasked with developing sports academies, securing international track certifications, negotiating international sporting partnerships, expanding sports tourism, and strengthening athlete welfare systems.

Hinds also called for the reactivation of the National Sports Council, which he noted has remained dormant for nearly a decade, and proposed the introduction of Constituency Sports Officers to coordinate structured sporting programmes at the community level.

He said these interventions would not only strengthen Jamaica’s sporting sector but also create pathways for youth development, economic opportunity, and crime prevention across vulnerable communities.

“For many young Jamaicans, a football field, cricket pitch, or athletics track is not simply a place of play. It is often the first doorway out of poverty and hopelessness,” Hinds stated.

He maintained that Jamaica’s sporting future cannot be built on temporary announcements and symbolic gestures.

“The business of play is serious business,” Hinds added. “Jamaica must either position itself to lead within the global sporting economy or continue watching other countries monetise Jamaican excellence better than Jamaica itself.”