George Calls for Greater Protection of Athletes’ Brands and Sporting Achievements

Sports Minister Dwayne George says Antigua and Barbuda must do more to protect the commercial value created by its athletes and sporting organizations, arguing that intellectual property rights are increasingly critical to ensuring sportsmen and women benefit from their success.

George made the remarks during a symposium hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Intellectual Property and Commerce Office (ABIPCO), Cricket West Indies and the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, where participants explored the relationship between sports, innovation and intellectual property.

Addressing athletes, sports administrators and legal professionals, George said modern sport extends far beyond competition and now encompasses branding, marketing and commercial opportunities that can generate long-term economic benefits.

“Every athlete develops a reputation. Every sporting organization builds a brand. And every event creates commercial opportunities,” the minister said.

He noted that intellectual property protections help ensure those assets are protected and can be converted into lasting value for athletes and organizations.

“Intellectual properties help to ensure that these valuable assets are not only protected, but also transformed into lasting value,” George said.

The minister said the issue is particularly important for Antigua and Barbuda, which has produced internationally recognized sporting figures whose achievements have elevated the country’s profile abroad.

He pointed to icons such as Sir Vivian Richards and other distinguished athletes as examples of individuals whose accomplishments have brought international recognition to the nation.

According to George, athletes invest years of work, discipline and sacrifice to reach elite levels and should be equipped with the tools needed to protect the value generated by their achievements.

“As a government, we remain committed to ensure that our people are equipped to protect and benefit from their hard work, creativity and achievements,” he said.

The minister’s remarks came as the symposium examined how trademarks, copyrights, image rights and other forms of intellectual property can help athletes and sporting organizations safeguard their names, likenesses, logos and commercial interests.

George said protecting intellectual property is becoming increasingly important as sport evolves into a major contributor to economic activity worldwide.

He argued that stronger awareness of intellectual property rights can help athletes avoid exploitation while creating opportunities for sponsorships, merchandising and other revenue-generating ventures.

The minister also linked intellectual property protection to broader efforts to strengthen the sporting sector, citing government support for youth development programmes, sports infrastructure and the planned Cricket West Indies High Performance Centre.

He said those investments are intended to create pathways for athletes while ensuring the country captures greater value from sporting success.

The symposium formed part of activities marking World Intellectual Property Day 2026 under the theme “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate,” and brought together representatives from government, academia, the legal profession and the sporting community to discuss how intellectual property can support the future growth of sports in Antigua and Barbuda.

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