Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association

The Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, formerly the British Honduras Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (IOC code: BIZ), is the National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association of Belize, responsible for the country's representation at both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association

Country/Region	Belize
Code	BIZ
Created	1967[1]
Recognized	1967[2]
Continental Association	PASO
Headquarters	1 King Street, Belize City, Belize[2][a]
President	Hilberto Martinez[2]
Secretary General	Allan Sharp[2]
Website	belizeolympic.org

History

The British Honduras Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association was founded in 1967 and recognised that same year by the Commonwealth Games Federation, which had previously recognised the British Honduras Amateur Athletic Association (now the Belize Athletic Association).^[1][3][4][b] It was recognised the following year by the International Olympic Committee.^[2][5] In 1973, its name was changed to the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association.^{[citation needed]}

The Association's most recent elections were held on 18 February 2017, with Hilberto Martinez and Allan Sharp assuming office as President and Secretary General, respectively.^[6]

Activities

The Association is primarily responsible for funding athletes' training and travel to sporting competitions.^[7] In 2022, it commissioned the construction of Olympic House, which is partially meant to provide its affiliated sporting federations and athletes with office and training space.^[8]

Affiliated bodies

National sports governing bodies affiliated with the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association as of 2022.^[9]

Body	President	Notes
Belize Athletic Association	Deon Sutherland	–
Belize Basketball Federation	Paul Thompson	–
Belize Body Building & Fitness Federation	Mirna Paul-Greenidge	–
Belize Boxing Federation	Moses Sulph	–
Belize Canoe Association	Pamela Bradley	–
Cycling Federation of Belize	Orson Butler	–
Belize National Fencing Association	Owen Meighan	–
Football Federation of Belize	Sergio Chuc	–
Judo Belize Federation	Franz Menzies	–
Belize Karate Federation	Herman Pastor Jr.	–
Belize Sailing Association	Sharon Hardwick	–
Belize Softball Federation	Jude Lizama	–
Belize Table Tennis Association	Arturo Vasquez	–
Belize Tennis Association	Edward Musa	–
Belize National Triathlon Association	Giovanni Alamilla	–
Belize Volleyball Association	Allan Sharp	–
Rugby Belize	Tony Gillings	–
Belize Sport Shooters Federation	–	suspended

Controversies

The Association, deemed '[possibly] the most important sporting body in Belize,' has been criticised for defying 'every norm of democratic governance.'^[7] Its second President, Ned Pitts, held office 'for 42 years and did not face an open election in decades.'^{[7][citation needed]} By 2013, it was claimed that 'no one can rightly recall when the last election was held.'^[7][c]