BT Civic Centre turns into boxing ring

(CNS): A new boxing club has opened at the Bodden Town civic centre catering to youngsters and adults to help in the fight against both crime and obesity. The Cayman Islands Government and the CI Boxing came together to create the club at the centre which is rarely used and has plans for another in East End to add to the existing West Bay club. The youth arm of the club is an after-school programme from 4-6pm Monday through Thursday which is free for students. Officials also have plans for adult fitness classes offered from 6-8pm Monday through Friday at a cost of only $25 a month in the near future.

“The goal of the programme is to reduce crime among our young people, engage young people in proactive activities, increase their physical activity and address the obesity problem,” said Michael Myles, Ministry of Education Programme Coordinator and Liaison Officer of At Risk Youth. “We also want to engage the Bodden Town community in physical activity and mentoring our youth.”

Officials believe that the ministry of education’s extended after school programme has had a positive impact on the community with some 1,400 young people becoming involved in various after school programmes.

“Bodden Town is now perhaps the second largest district and the government is making every effort to address the social challenges of our youngsters in the district being left unsupervisedso many hours after school,” Myles added.

The Health Minister and Bodden Town MLA Osbourne Bodden who also has responsibility for sports and youth said joining forces with the Boxing Association to help children get fit will help them win the fight against weight gain as well as keep out of trouble.

A study last year showed a third of children entering primary school in the Cayman Islands were obese or overweight, according to screenings of new pupils done by the Cayman Islands Public Health Department. Of 530 children, the majority of whom were ages 4 to 6, entering schools in September in 2012, 92, or 17.4 per cent were obese, and 86, or 16 per cent were overweight.

“If we teach our youths, and by extension the adults, how to stay active and fit, they will reap the rewards of good health when they get older,” said Bodden. “A healthier population also means less of a burden on the healthcare system. It just makes good sense.

Praising the hard work of Michael and Coach Norman Wilson, Bodden said asked to pursue the idea they did it in fairly short order. “Councillor Alva Suckoo has also had this as a dream for some time and him becoming my Councilor, and his passion for boxing, will ensure that we have continued success as we seek to expand the programme,” the minister added.

For more information, call 345-926-0749 or email president@caymanislandsboxing.com.