Sports Minister Dwayne George says the planned Cricket West Indies High Performance Centre will create new opportunities for athletes, businesses and the broader economy, positioning Antigua and Barbuda as a leading hub for sports development across the region.
According to Antigua News Room, George made the remarks during a symposium hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Intellectual Property and Commerce Office (ABIPCO), Cricket West Indies and the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. Stakeholders gathered to examine the role of intellectual property in sports and national development.
Addressing attendees, George described sport as a powerful vehicle for national pride, healthy living and economic growth, while stressing the importance of protecting and maximising the value generated through sporting achievement.
"Sport has always occupied a special place in our society. It inspires national pride, promotes healthy lifestyles, and creates opportunities for personal and professional growth," the minister said.
George pointed to the Government's approval of the Cricket West Indies High Performance Centre as one of the most significant investments currently underway in the sporting sector.
"Recent examples include the approval of the Cricket West Indies Campus and High Performance Centre, a transformative project that will establish a world-class ecosystem for elite athletes, sports science, tourism and commercial activity," he said.
The facility is expected to serve as a training and development base for athletes while attracting visitors, teams and sporting organisations from around the world.
George said the project forms part of a broader effort to expand opportunities for young people and strengthen sporting infrastructure throughout Antigua and Barbuda. He highlighted ongoing investments in youth development programmes, improvements to sporting facilities in Barbuda and the Government's annual seed funding programme for public schools.
The minister also referenced overseas exposure opportunities available to young cricketers through a UK club placement programme, which allows emerging athletes to gain international experience.
"Similarly, our efforts to strengthen youth development and sporting infrastructure in Barbuda reflect our commitment to ensuring that young people across Antigua and Barbuda have meaningful pathways to benefit from sports," George said.
He noted that sports organisations and athletes increasingly operate within a commercial environment where names, images, brands and events carry significant financial value.
"Every athlete develops a reputation. Every sporting organization builds a brand. And every event creates commercial opportunities," he told attendees.
George said intellectual property protections are essential to ensuring athletes and organisations benefit from their achievements rather than having those benefits exploited by others.
"As a government, we remain committed to ensure that our people are equipped to protect and benefit from their hard work, creativity and achievements," he said.
The minister also encouraged the public to support upcoming international cricket fixtures, including the West Indies versus Sri Lanka Test series at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, saying strong public participation is critical to sustaining the country's sporting culture. He further urged continued support for local sports and cultural activities, including Carnival, which falls under his ministry's portfolio.
The symposium formed part of activities marking World Intellectual Property Day 2026 and explored how intellectual property protections can help athletes, sporting organisations and countries derive greater value from their accomplishments and heritage.
