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ANGUILLA

SPORTS ACT, 2026

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART 1

PRELIMINARY AND INTERPRETATION
  • 1. Interpretation
  • 2. Application of Act

PART 2

OBJECTS AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES
  • 3. Objects of the Act
  • 4. National Sport

PART 3

MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SPORT
  • 5. Functions of the Minister
  • 6. General policy directions
  • 7. Delegation
  • 8. Role of the Department of Sports
  • 9. Guide to roles and responsibilities

PART 4

ANGUILLA SPORTS COUNCIL
  • 10. Establishment of Anguilla Sports Council
  • 11. Status of Council
  • 12. Composition of Council
  • 13. Minimum membership and continuity of Council
  • 14. Appointment and tenure
  • 15. Functions of Council
  • 16. Community sports contributors
  • 17. Powers of Council
  • 18. Secretary and staff of the Council
  • 19. Meetings and procedure
  • 20. Committees
  • 21. Disclosure of interest

PART 5

RECOGNITION AND REGULATION OF SPORTS ORGANISATIONS
  • 22. Recognition of sports organisations
  • 23. Criteria for recognition
  • 24. Provisional recognition
  • 25. Register of recognised sports organisations
  • 26. Conditions of recognition
  • 27. Suspension or revocation of recognition
  • 28. Consequences of loss of recognition

PART 6

REPRESENTATION AND PARTICIPATION IN SPORT
  • 29. Representation of Anguilla in sport
  • 30. Participation in regional and international competitions
  • 31. Compliance with sporting rules
  • 32. No entitlement to independent international representation

PART 7

ATHLETES, SELECTION AND DISPUTE REVIEW
  • 33. Application of Part 7
  • 34. Selection of athletes
  • 35. Selection criteria
  • 36. Internal review of decisions
  • 37. Review by the Council

PART 8

SAFEGUARDING, WELFARE AND CONDUCT
  • 38. Safeguarding of minors
  • 39. Safeguarding policies and procedures
  • 40. Background checks and suitability
  • 41. Athlete welfare
  • 42. Codes of conduct

PART 9

ANTI-DOPING AND SPORTING INTEGRITY
  • 43. Application of anti-doping requirements
  • 44. Compliance with applicable anti-doping rules
  • 45. Anti-doping testing and enforcement
  • 46. Effect of anti-doping violations
  • 47. Sporting integrity
  • 48. Integrity measures and referral
  • 49. Limitation of responsibility

PART 10

INFORMATION AND CONFIDENTIALITY
  • 50. Information for administrative purposes
  • 51. Use of information
  • 52. Disclosure of information
  • 53. Protection of sensitive information
  • 54. Duty of confidentiality
  • 55. Unauthorised disclosure
  • 56. No general data protection regime

PART 11

NATIONAL SPORTS DUTY
  • 57. Authorised absence for sporting duty
  • 58. Status of absence
  • 59. Protection from dismissal or penalty
  • 60. Conditions and limitations

PART 12

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS FOR SPORT
  • 61. Sports Fund
  • 62. Application of Financial Administration and Audit Act
  • 63. Grants and sponsorship
  • 64. Directions to Council regarding Fund

PART 13

MISCELLANEOUS
  • 65. Regulation of events, recording and broadcasting
  • 66. Use of public sporting facilities
  • 67. Offences and penalties
  • 68. Regulations
  • 69. Savings and transitional provisions
  • 70. Citation

I Assent

________________

Julia Crouch, OBE

Governor

________________

Date

ANGUILLA

No. /2026

SPORTS ACT, 2026

[Gazette Dated: , 2026] [Commencement: Assent under section 57 of the Constitution]

An Act to provide a framework for the governance, coordination and development of organised sport in Anguilla; to establish the Anguilla Sports Council; to declare boat racing as the national sport; to provide for the recognition of sports organisations and community sports contributors; to provide for authorised absence from work for employees selected to represent Anguilla in sport; to provide for matters relating to the Sports Fund; and for connected purposes.

ENACTED by the Legislature of Anguilla

PART 1

PRELIMINARY AND INTERPRETATION

Interpretation

1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

  • “athlete” means a person who participates, seeks to participate, or is selected to participate in organised sport, whether at recreational, amateur or competitive level;
  • “community sports contributor” means an individual recognised by the Council under section 16;
  • “Council” means the Anguilla Sports Council established under this Act;
  • “Department” means the Department of Sports;
  • “Minister” means the member of the Executive Council to whom responsibility for sport is assigned;
  • “minor” means a person under the age of 18 years;
  • “organised sport” means sport conducted under the authority of, or in affiliation with, a recognised sports organisation or provisionally recognised organisation, and includes sport conducted with the support of the Council under section 17(3);
  • “provisionally recognised organisation” means an organisation granted provisional recognition under section 24;
  • “publish” means to make available to the public in such manner as is appropriate to bring the matter to the attention of persons likely to be affected, which may include—
    • (a) publication in a newspaper of general circulation in Anguilla;
    • (b) announcement on a social media platform;
    • (c) notice posted at the offices of the Department or at another public place;
    • (d) circular or direct communication to recognised and provisionally recognised sports organisations; or
    • (e) such other means as are appropriate in the circumstances;
    and “published” and “publication” shall be construed accordingly;
  • “recognised sports organisation” means a body granted full recognition by the Council under Part 5;
  • “sport” means physical activity pursued for competition, recreation or physical development, and includes boat racing.

Application of Act

2. (1) This Act applies to—

  • (a) organised sport carried on within Anguilla; and
  • (b) participation by persons representing Anguilla in regional or international sporting events, subject to any applicable international rules governing such participation.

(2) Nothing in this Act limits the operation of any other enactment.

PART 2

OBJECTS AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES

Objects of the Act

3. The objects of this Act are—

  • (a) to provide a clear and proportionate framework for the coordination, development and recognition of organised sport in Anguilla;
  • (b) to promote inclusive participation in sport and physical activity at all levels, including community and recreational sport;
  • (c) to support the development of athletes and sporting organisations in a manner consistent with the resources and priorities of Anguilla;
  • (d) to promote integrity, fairness and respect for applicable sporting rules in organised sport;
  • (e) to safeguard minors and other vulnerable persons participating in sport;
  • (f) to facilitate participation in regional and international sporting events in accordance with applicable rules and arrangements governing Anguilla;
  • (g) to recognise and support sport as a contributor to national development, social cohesion and wellbeing; and
  • (h) to ensure that measures implemented under this Act are reasonable, proportionate and capable of effective implementation within the national context.

National Sport

4. (1) Boat Racing is declared to be the national sport of Anguilla.

(2) The Minister, the Department and the Council shall, within available resources, take reasonable steps to promote, preserve and support boat racing as part of Anguilla’s sporting and cultural heritage.

(3) In carrying out subsection (2), regard shall be had to—

  • (a) the cultural and historical significance of boat racing;
  • (b) the need to preserve traditional practices associated with the sport; and
  • (c) the promotion of safe and sustainable participation.

(4) Nothing in this section creates a right to funding or financial support.

PART 3

MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SPORT

Functions of the Minister

5. (1) The Minister is responsible for the general oversight of sport in Anguilla.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Minister may—

  • (a) determine national policy relating to sport;
  • (b) appoint members of the Council in accordance with this Act;
  • (c) approve strategic plans submitted by the Council; and
  • (d) perform such other functions as are conferred by this Act or any other enactment.

General policy directions

6. (1) The Minister may give the Council general policy directions consistent with this Act.

(2) A direction under subsection (1) shall be in writing.

(3) The Council shall have regard to any direction given under this section in the exercise of its functions.

(4) A direction shall not relate to the determination of a specific dispute, disciplinary matter or selection decision.

Delegation

7. (1) The Minister may, in writing, delegate to a public officer any function conferred on the Minister under this Act, other than the power to give general policy directions.

(2) A delegation under subsection (1) may be made subject to conditions.

(3) A delegation does not prevent the Minister from exercising the delegated function.

Role of the Department of Sports

8. (1) The Department is responsible for the operational delivery of sport in Anguilla on behalf of the Minister.

(2) The functions of the Department are to—

  • (a) manage, maintain and develop public sporting facilities across Anguilla;
  • (b) implement national sports programmes and initiatives approved by the Minister;
  • (c) monitor and support compliance with this Act and regulations made under it;
  • (d) manage the Government’s budgetary allocations for sport and account to the Minister for their use;
  • (e) maintain and develop relationships with regional and international sporting bodies on behalf of the Government;
  • (f) provide administrative and logistical support to the Council as may be agreed between the Department and the Council; and
  • (g) carry out such other functions as the Minister may direct.

(3) The relationship between the Department and the Council shall be collaborative and complementary—

  • (a) the Council is responsible for the recognition, regulation and coordination of sports organisations, for recommending national sports programmes for funding, and for advising the Minister on sports policy;
  • (b) the Department is responsible for the operational implementation of sports policy and Ministerial directions, the management and maintenance of public sports facilities, and the administration of Government budgetary allocations for sport; and
  • (c) neither the Department nor the Council shall assume responsibility for a function that falls within the remit of the other without the agreement of the Minister.

(4) The Department and the Council shall, at least once in every calendar year, jointly review their respective work programmes and agree a schedule of cooperation for the following year, which shall be submitted to the Minister for information.

(5) Where a dispute arises between the Department and the Council about their respective functions or responsibilities, either party may refer the matter to the Minister for determination, and the Minister’s determination shall be final.

Guide to roles and responsibilities

9. (1) For ease of reference, the following is a general guide to the roles of the key bodies under this Act—

  • (a) the Minister is responsible for the overall direction of sports policy in Anguilla, appointing the Council, approving the Council’s strategic plans, and giving general policy directions to the Council;
  • (b) the Department is the Government’s operational body for sport — it manages public sports facilities, implements Government sports programmes, administers the Government’s sports budget, and supports compliance with this Act on the ground;
  • (c) the Council is the independent statutory body for sport — it recognises and regulates sports organisations, recommends national sports programmes for funding, and advises the Minister on sports policy.