The BOA is inviting design submissions to be used on Bermuda’s baton, celebrating three distinctive themes: Sport, Culture, and Nature.
For the 2026 Glasgow Games, Commonwealth Sport has asked each country to design their own baton, rather than the traditional single baton traversing the member countries in advance of the Games.
Bermuda's baton will showcase the island's artistic talent and embody the values that make us unique. Each of the three-sided batons was designed and hand made in Glasgow from sustainably source dash wood by craftsman Tim Norman.
The relay began at Buckingham Palace in March 2025 and will be celebrated in Bermuda April 25 – May 1st. Competition Guidelines
1. This competition is run by the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) and the BOA retains all rights to the selection of the submitted artwork.
2. Winners will be chosen by a committee who will select a design from each of the three themes. The committee will be formed by competition organizers and include an island art professional. All judging will be based solely on the design.
3. Deadline for submissions is March 11, 2026
4. All entries should include artist’s name, email, and telephone number.
5. Submissions may be sent electronically to equipintern@olympics.bm or delivered to the BOA office at 22 Church Street – 3rd Floor, Hamilton
6. Selections will be made on March 18th but not revealed until April 27th at official announcement.
7. Selected artists will each be given 10 days to complete their design on the baton.
8. Selected designers will receive a. Glasgow 2026 Team Bermuda apparel b. Invitation to Team Bermuda events c. Promotion on BOA’s social media d. Finished artwork on the baton remains the property of Bermuda Olympic Association but reproductions are allowed by the artists.
Technical Information for Submissions 1. Designs are to reflect one of the three themes, Culture, Nature, or Sport. 2. Submissions can be for a single theme and face of the baton, or multiple themes and faces. 3. Designs should be suitable for reproduction on the baton which is made from ash wood. 4. Submissions must fit the dimensions shown in the graphic below.
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Lewis Dominates in Dubai with Season-Opening Brilliance
IslandStats.com
Bermuda Paralympian Jessica Lewis has made a resounding statement at the start of the 2026 para-athletics season, storming to victory in the 100m at the Dubai World Para Athletics Grand Prix.
Competing in the 17th Fazza International Open Championship, the T53 specialist outclassed a combined field of T53 and T54 athletes to secure a dominant gold medal under the lights in Dubai.
Lewis clocked an impressive 16.32 seconds to take the tape, finishing nearly half a second clear of her nearest rival. The performance is particularly significant as it represents one of the fastest season-opening times of her illustrious career.
Despite being one of only two T53 athletes in the final, Lewis’s acceleration allowed her to power past the T54 competitors, showcasing the technical improvements made during a rigorous off-season.
Speaking exclusively with Islandstats.com following the race, Lewis revealed that a significant equipment change had added a layer of nerves to her season debut.
"I’m so happy with the race!" Lewis said. "In the off-season, I switched to using gloves with a groove in them which took about a month of training to get used to, so I was anxious to see how I would do in a race setting."
The transition appears to have been seamless. Lewis credited a pre-competition training camp in Sharjah for helping her adjust to the time zone and fine-tune her "jump off the line".
With the first gold of the year secured, the Bermudian star remains "excited" for the remainder of the Dubai meet as she continues her journey toward the major championships later this year.
T53/54 Women’s 100m Wheelchair Final
1. 53 Jessica Lewis - Bermuda 16.32 2. 53 Hamide Dogangun - Türkiye 16.78 3. 54 Zubeyde Supurgeci - Türkiye 16.74 4. 54 Nandini Sharma - Canada 17.07 5. 54 Aimee Fisher - Australia 18.58 6. 54 Katrin Kohl - Luxembourg 19.79 7. 54 Meera Hassan - United Arab Emirates 23.41
Friday, February 06, 2026
Guyana Stun Dominant Bermuda in U17 Group H Opener
IslandStats.com
Bermuda 0 Guyana 1
The Estadio Francisco Morazán in San Pedro Sula played host to a frustrating afternoon for Bermuda’s young Gombey Warriors as they fell 1-0 to Guyana in their opening Group H match.
Despite commanding the vast majority of possession and outshooting their opponents by a significant margin, Bermuda suffered their third consecutive defeat on the opening matchday of a Group Stage when facing Caribbean opposition.
Bermuda Starting Line-Up: - Nuri Latham, Amir Weller, Milliunh Hill, Kayuri Tucker, Na'im Zuill, Mateus Amaral, Amir Brangman, Deacon Wade, Z'Ani Jennings (Kaiyuri Albuoy 70th), Tyler Steede (Shiia Davis 82nd), Zydon Lightbourne (Jèon Wolfe 46th) - Bermuda Substitutes: - Ethan Adderley, Rylan Desilva, Norico Furbert, Curtis Jackson, Joshua Smith, Shiloh Waite, Roman Wilkinson - Guyana Starting Line-Up: - Nyall Kendall, Joshua Morris, Tamer Unver, Maximus Cato, Malachi Patrick, Nyron Barrow (Jaden Nelson 77th), Jerimiah Welcome, Jaden Tasher (Levi Stephen 46th), Mark Glasgow, Micaiah De Freitas (Aaden Arthur 81st), Matthew Stewart (David Williams 87th) - Guyana Substitutes - Zack Brief, Darius Chester, Flavio Larose, Qushon Lewis, Trayvon Smith, Tyrell Walcott
The match, which marked the first-ever meeting between these two nations in the Under-17 Qualifiers, began with Bermuda firmly in control. Deacon Wade registered the first significant attempt just one minute into the contest, though his long-range effort was blocked. Bermuda continued to apply pressure throughout the first half, forcing Guyana goalkeeper Nyall Kendall into a series of vital saves. Tyler Steede was the first to test Kendall’s reflexes in the 23rd minute, followed by a spectacular top-corner save to deny a long-range strike from Na'im Zuill shortly before the interval.
The tactical and physical battle remained scoreless at the break, prompted by several missed opportunities from set-pieces and a resilient Guyanese defense that limited Guyana's own chances to wide-drifting efforts from Micaiah De Freitas and Nyron Barrow.
Bermuda looked to spark their offense in the second half by introducing Jèon Wolfe, and the substitute immediately became a focal point. Wolfe helped set up Mateus Amaral for a 61st-minute strike that was parried away, but the momentum shifted decisively five minutes later. Against the run of play, Guyana broke the deadlock when Mark Glasgow found Matthew Stewart, who unleashed a clinical left-footed shot into the top corner from the left side of the box.
The final twenty-five minutes saw Bermuda launch an all-out assault on the Guyanese goal. Zuill and Wolfe both forced low saves from the inspired Kendall, while Amaral saw a diving effort from a tight angle kept out as the clock ticked down. Even in six minutes of frantic added time, Bermuda could not find a way through; Wolfe saw a close-range strike gathered by Kendall before Amara’s final long-range blast was blocked.
The final statistics told a story of dominance without reward for Bermuda, who controlled 63.2% of the possession and registered 20 shots compared to just 9 from Guyana. Crucially, while Bermuda managed 9 shots on target, Guyana made their solitary shot on target count to secure all three points.
Thursday, February 05, 2026
Bermudian Officials Take Center Stage in Guatemala
IslandStats.com
Bermudian football officiating reached another international milestone on Thursday as FIFA-listed officials Amaury Majors and Clinton Hayward took charge of the opening exchanges in the 2026 Concacaf Under-17 Men’s Qualifiers.
The pair were assigned to the Group C clash between hosts Guatemala and Antigua and Barbuda, held under the lights at the Estadio Cementos Progreso in Guatemala City. Majors, who joined the FIFA referee list in 2025, and Hayward, a seasoned assistant referee on the panel since 2022, navigated a high-intensity encounter as the Central American side secured a vital 2-0 victory.
A Game of Two Halves Despite the vocal home support, the first half remained a tactical stalemate. Antigua and Barbuda’s defensive discipline frustrated the hosts, ensuring both sides headed into the tunnel with the scoreline deadlocked at 0-0.
However, the second half saw the match ignite just two minutes after the restart. In the 47th minute, Patrick Arana broke the deadlock for Guatemala, unleashing a spectacular long-range strike from outside the box that left the Antiguan goalkeeper with no chance.
The momentum remained firmly with the home side, and they doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute. Jeffery Interiano found space within the penalty area to slot home a composed finish, effectively sealing the three points for the "Chapines".
The appointment of Majors and Hayward to a high-stakes qualifier in Central America further highlights the rising standard of officiating within the Bermuda Football Association. Majors continues a busy international run that previously saw him officiate at the Concacaf Boys’ Under-15 Championships and the Caribbean Cup.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
A Call to Arms for BERMUDIAN Future Sports Journalist
IslandStats.com
The time has come for Bermuda to make a concerted effort to cultivate and elevate its own talent within the realm of sports journalism. Having spent years climbing the media ranks and covering some of the world's most prestigious events—from the Olympics and Commonwealth Games to major regional tournaments like the Gold Cup and international rugby—one observation is consistently clear: Bermudian representation in the global press corps is often lacking.
While it has been a privilege to cover these events, reporting on international cricket, major games, and cups, the fact remains that for large portions of history, Bermudian stories, even those about Bermudian athletes, have largely been told by external voices.
I understand this suggestion may cause a minor ripple among some of my esteemed overseas journalist friends, whose professional expertise is invaluable. However, I believe the discussion now needs to focus inward, on the broad and exciting future we have already built on the island.
We must actively encourage young Bermudians who possess a passion for sport to get involved in the media profession.
The impact of a Bermudian reporter goes beyond merely recording scores. It ensures that the sacrifices, the unique challenges of training on a small island, and the cultural significance of both local and international triumphs are conveyed with a depth that only a local can provide.
It is time to invest in, mentor, and trust this next generation of storytellers. We must encourage them to step up to the mic, to command the press box, and to truly fly. The future of Bermudian sports coverage, and the inspiration it provides to future athletes, rests on them.
The presence of Bermudian sports journalists covering major sporting events, seeing a familiar face or hearing a local voice in the media centre of an international tournament can transform an abstract career dream into an achievable reality to pick up a pen, microphone, or camera.
1. Creating Accessible Role Models
The most powerful impact of a Bermudian journalist covering a major event is the creation of a relatable role model.
Validating the Career Path: Seeing a fellow Bermudian accredited at the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, or a European football ground demystifies the profession. It breaks down the perception that such roles are exclusive to large international media centres, proving that skills developed on the island can compete globally.
Encouraging Engagement: Young people are more likely to pursue careers where they see people who look and sound like them succeeding. This visibility is a crucial first step in tackling the "I don't know where to start" barrier often cited by those interested in media careers.
2. Ensuring Authentic Local Storytelling
Local media professionals are uniquely positioned to understand the true context and emotional weight of Bermudian sporting narratives.
Cultural Nuance: A Bermudian journalist understands the specific sacrifices, triumphs, and challenges inherent to training on a small island. They can convey the deep cultural significance of events like Cup Match, or the personal journey of an athlete who overcame geographical limitations.
Shifting the Narrative: Their coverage ensures that local athletes, regardless of their international ranking, receive the attention and thoughtful analysis they deserve, which is vital for building community pride and inspiring younger athletes at the grassroots level.
3. Building the Island's Media Infrastructure
By participating in both local and international events, Bermudian journalists develop high-level skills and create invaluable networks that benefit the entire media ecosystem.
By supporting Bermudian talent in the media box, the island is actively investing in a future where its stories are told with passion, accuracy, and an authentic local voice.
