Govt. must go in front

Jun 25, 2009 Sports

By Rawle Welch
Some may want to argue that it is because of the Beijing success that the Jamaican Government is giving so much support for Track & Field, but the records will show that long before those astonishing performances came, it took long term financial commitments and astute planning from both the Government and Private Sector to get those results.
It showed that there was a plan and all the requisite tools to ensure the possibility and success of that policy were provided, before the substantial returns were acquired.
It meant that the Government had to lead from the front, which as everyone knows is how it is done in all parts of the world, except here.

It also signified that the acquisition of competition and training facilities were of paramount importance, while consistent financial support in the form of monthly subventions would have had to be given to the chosen discipline(s), depending on the choice(s) of the Government.
In almost every Caribbean territory, examples of Government playing the leading role is ubiquitous so the dispute as to whose function it is to be the principal actor in the development of sports in any country should cease with immediate effect.
When one looks at the investment Jamaica, a nation similarly impoverished like us has made in sports and is reaping huge dividends now no amount of excuses from this Government could sufficiently suppress the national embarrassment.

Only yesterday, Minister of Sport of Jamaica Olivia Grange presented to the local Athletics Association a grant to the tune of $3.6 million to assist athletes’ preparations for the upcoming IAAF World Championships scheduled to be held in Berlin, Germany from August 15-23.
According to the Minister, “the grant will be used for medical expenses for the athletes. It will be used for supplements, for coaches’ fees, for training facilities, for local transport to and from meets, and in some cases housing allowances.” In this country, very few national representative teams receive such benevolence from the Government; many times it takes the form of tax waivers, which is often substantially inadequate to send our best athletes to compete.
Grange added that so far for the year, the Government has spent in excess of $40 million on track and field development.

The money according to her was spent on developmental meets, monthly subvention to the Athletic Association from the Sports Development Foundation, the Jamaica International Invitational Meet and athlete welfare programmes. You can only imagine why the support for the sport is so strong, but more importantly she said something that should resonate with the leaders of this country.
She said that Jamaica will have the strongest team in Berlin and a whole new generation of Jamaicans would grow up knowing that they can be the best in the world.
That is the legacy that she felt should be left after what is anticipated to be another strong display by the athletes from the ‘Athletics Capital’ of the world.

There are many illustrations of laughable support for federations or associations and this has hampered either our presence at regional and international events as well as forced us to send second string athletes to compete because of who could gain sponsorship.
This view is not an attempt to acquit a few sports administrators from their wretched performances, but to simply say that the State should definitely do more for our national teams.
Then there is the jostling by teams for use of the primary indoor facility, a situation that has frustrated preparations time and again, while apart from the National Stadium, no other outdoor venue could be used when it rains.
This is the year 2009 and many of our Caribbean counterparts are advancing their Sports Development Programmes, especially in light of the achievements of Caribbean athletes at the Beijing Games, what about us.

Latest News

Govt. must go in front

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 4th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest tips off today

Twin tons from Anderson, Imlach steer Eagles back...

Race for quarterfinal spots commence today at MoE...

Marsh sets up Lucknow’s comfortable win...

Saints and GTI dominate as YBG Georgetown...

Carty misses ton, Hamilton (80) sets up tense...

Features/Columnists

The One-Man Republic

The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation

Polls – what they say, where I stand

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Govt. must go in front

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 4th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]