As the countdown to the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC Games) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic enters its final stretch, Team Belize has secured critical financial backing from the national government to support its athletes’ journey to the regional competition.
On Sunday, Belize’s Minister of Sports Anthony Mahler formally transferred a $50,000 contribution to the Belize Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, the governing body that oversees the country’s participation in international multi-sport tournaments. The government funding is earmarked explicitly to cover travel, accommodation, equipment and competition-related costs that have been a growing burden for Belize’s small athletic program as it prepares to send competitors to one of the Caribbean and Central America’s most high-profile sporting events.
Over the weekend, athletes and team officials gathered for a final pre-departure briefing to review logistics, competition schedules and safety protocols ahead of their trip to Santo Domingo. This summer marks a busy season of international competition for Belizean athletes, who will compete in two top-tier global and regional multi-sport events over the coming months. Following the CAC Games, five Belizean athletes will travel onward to Glasgow, Scotland to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
For the 2026 CAC Games, Belize will field competitors across four key disciplines: cycling, basketball, beach volleyball and sailing. The funding injection comes at a critical time for the small Central American nation, which has been working to expand access to international competition opportunities for its emerging athletic talent and raise the profile of sport across the country. Team officials noted that the government’s support eliminates a significant financial barrier that would have otherwise threatened athletes’ ability to compete at full preparation at the regional games.