Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, in the Caribbean region next to North America and north of South America, and is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands. It lies on the boundary of the South American and Caribbean plates. Its capital and largest city is Bridgetown.
The coat of arms of Barbados was adopted on 14 February 1966, by a royal warrant of Queen Elizabeth II. The coat of arms of Barbados was presented by the Queen to the then President of the Senate of Barbados, Sir Grey Massiah. Like other former British possessions in the Caribbean, the coat of arms has a helmet with a national symbol on top, and a shield beneath that is supported by two animals.
The Barbados Football Association is the governing body of association football in Barbados. It is responsible the administration of football in Barbados with responsibility for the Barbadian national football team as well as the other Barbados National Football teams. Established in 1910, it was originally named the Barbados Football Amateur Association, but changed in 1925 to the current name. The Barbados Football Association became affiliated to FIFA in 1968, CONCACAF in 1967, and also the Caribbean Football Union.
The Nation Publishing Co. Limited is the publisher of the Nation Newspaper, which is the dominant daily newspaper in the country of Barbados. Co-founded by Harold Hoyte and Fred Gollop, it was first established in 1973. the Daily Nation is printed daily in colour and distributed at many points around the country. Covering the topics of business, sports, politics, lifestyles, editorials and entertainment, the Daily Nation reports many aspects of news in Barbados, in addition to regional, and International news.
Barbados competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. Seventeen competitors, sixteen men and one woman, took part in twenty events in seven sports.
Miss Barbados World beauty pageant selects representatives for the Miss World pageant from Barbados.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Barbados is a key Barbadian government agency responsible for regulating, maintaining, and developing Barbados's external relations and the nature of trading with foreign countries. The Ministry is also responsible for the country's representation at the United Nations and advises other Ministries and State authorities when the latter have dealings with foreign governments or institutions. It is based on Culloden Road, in the nation's capital Bridgetown.
There are 12 public holidays in Barbados, which includes Christian holidays and secular holidays. Holidays in Barbados are also referred to as bank holidays locally:
The Barbados national rugby union team represents Barbados at the sport of rugby union. Barbados has been playing international rugby union since the mid-1990s. They have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup. Barbados has also hosted the Caribbean Championship.
Barbados competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico. Nine competitors, all men, took part in ten events in five sports.
Barbados competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Seventeen competitors, sixteen men and one woman, took part in seventeen events in five sports.
The Barbados national tennis team represents Barbados in Davis Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Barbados Tennis Association.
Barbados first competed at the Summer Olympic Games in 1968, and has participated in each Games since, with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics when Barbados joined the American-led boycott and has never competed in the Winter Olympic Games. The country's only Olympic medal is a bronze won by sprinter Obadele Thompson in the men's 100 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
The Barbados Fed Cup team represents Barbados in Fed Cup tennis competition and are governed by the Barbados Tennis Association. They currently compete in the Americas Zone of Group II.
The Barbados national netball team represent Barbados in international netball. The Barbadian team qualified for the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore, finishing 11th. The Bajan Gems are coached by Anna Shepherd, and are captained by Rhe-Ann Niles. As of 1 July 2020, Barbados is 13th in the INF World Rankings.
Football is one of the most popular sports in Barbados.
Barbados first competed at the Paralympic Games in 2000. It has participated in five Summer Paralympics since then. The country has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics and has never won a Paralympic medal. Only two people have represented Barbados at the games: Daniel Coulthurst, who competed in cycling in 2000 and 2004, and David Taylor, who competed in swimming in 2008.
The Barbados Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA') has its headquarters in Charnocks, Christ Church. The Authority is headed by the Director General who is supported by the Directorate, Inspectorate and other support staff. It is governed under the Civil Aviation Act of 2022. The Authority was established to advise the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, who is responsible for the regulation and control of all aspects of civil aviation in Barbados. BCAA cooperates with other regional authorities in the Caribbean under the bloc known as the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS)
IPSC Barbados is the Barbadian association for practical shooting under the International Practical Shooting Confederation.
In Barbados, cannabis is illegal for recreational use, but is in high demand nonetheless. Cannabis is sourced from St. Vincent and Jamaica by local dealers who pool resources to buy consignments of the drug, transported by go-fast boats.
