Andrew Ordonez, From Bike Shop to Live Stream Sensation  

Goodnight and welcome to another edition of Sports Monday, I am Paul Lopez. Cycling races are woven into the very fabric of Belize’s cultural identity. From the thrilling Holy Saturday Cross Country Cycling Classic to the exciting New Year’s Cycling Classic, and all the races in between, we line the streets to cheer on our favorite athletes or tune in from our devices. Over the past three years, one voice has become synonymous with cycling livestreams – that of bike shop owner, Andrew Ordonez. His commentary has become a staple, adding color and excitement to every race.

 

Andrew Ordonez, Owner, Ordonez Bike Shop

“I mih always loved cycling since I was a teenager or maybe just after ten years old I fell in love with cycling. Eventually I got into making cycling a living, I opened a bike shop. Getting to the broadcasting part, right after Covid I visited my son in Chicago, and they had the bicycle race weh name Intelligence Cup. I don’t know anything about streaming, I dah mih like a dunce when it comes to anything media. And he said, dad, just hold the phone, we gwen live and call names or so.”

 

 

 

Ordonez returned to Belize shortly after, and what he tried for the first time in Chicago set him on a new path. He began livestreaming races across the country, covering thousands of miles and countless events. And he’s not using any fancy equipment either. Ordonez ingeniously crafted a tripod from a bicycle fork, connected to a bicycle hub, and mounted a platform for two phones. His resourcefulness and passion have made him a staple in the Belizean cycling scene.

 

 

Andrew Ordonez

“Being have the bike shop, everyday you have cyclist gather here. We talk about racing. I was a cyclist back in the days, so I know how the race is being rider how the body operates, because I know the cyclist by name and riding style, like people ask me how could you know such a rider. I could say that is Mr. George Tillet riding and when you reach there it is Mr. George Tillet, because you know them and communicate and some of the riders come here and talk out their team strategy so I could pick up on that right. But being on the highway, it is easy for me to talk all day about cycling.”

 

 

Ordonez has made a name for himself through his livestreams. His energetic and sometimes comical commentating keeps the audience engaged while watching races. But, following a cycling race in its entirety across highways on the back of a motorcycle is no easy task and quite frankly, a high-risk job.

 

Andrew Ordonez

“Like you know a family donated a motorcycle to me free of charge. They told me just go to customs and I drove out with that beautiful machine because they saw what I was doing and they really want to see me stay on the tarmac. But like you mention about the danger, we know how dangerous it is. I have seen friends lose their life. I know I could be one of those people. But, when you love something you put your life on the line. You don’t think about it. You just do it.  And that is what I do. I go out there and pray, my family pray, and fans pray. They say we know the risk you take; I know the risk I take, but I put in my mind, the good lord is watching over me.”

 

 

 

And may he continue to do so! It was a big weekend for volleyball in Belize as the country hosted the Central American Volleyball Federation’s general assembly for the first time. This federation is part of the NORCECA Volleyball Confederation, and its President, Cristobal Marte, was in Belize for the event. Before the assembly on Saturday, Marte met with Prime Minister John Briceño, the CEO in the Ministry of Tourism, and the Minister of Sports to push for greater investments in sports. Here are some remarks from the opening ceremony on how they plan to make that happen.

 

Cristobal Marte, President, NORCECA Volleyball Confederation

“Sports can increase income in this country as it does in every other country in the world throughout tourism, throughout sports and tourism brining in events, creating know how, creating awareness in the world, so people know where Belize is and what we do, creating idols. We need to have champions here in Belize. We need to have people to look up to here in Belize, to inspire our youth here in Belize.”

 

 

 

Allan Sharp, President, Belize Volleyball Association

“As I have had discussion with President Marte, we can always do with more equipment. That said, along the same line, during the discussions with Minister Ferguson, the Prime Minister, CEO Solano, he expressed clearly that NORCECA can offer more assistance, but Belzie must do its part. The government must do its part, the national federation must do its part, and NORCECA can do more for Belize.”

 

 

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports

“The prime minister announced some months ago that from our lottery a portion of the proceeds will come to sports. That by itself will be some assistance to improve its facilities. It is only a few facilities because it is a small country, and I want to commit that we are going to work for those to be done.”

 

 

 

Well folks, that is all we have for you in tonight’s coverage of Sports Monday. Catch you in the next one.