ESTABLISHING a true sports culture would go a long way in increasing our success at all levels.
Just think how much more could have been achieved in the sporting arena over the past 50 years if we were more deliberate in our support for our sportsmen and women.
We often have a knee-jerk reaction in this area, suggesting that we only care about winning without really helping to create the passage for success. It is the norm to see outstanding achievers being showered with gifts and promises of support only after they have managed to get on the podium at some international event.
Fundamentally, we would be much more proactive in this respect if we understand or pay greater attention to the culture of sports, viewing it from a holistic perspective and not pinning it to a win or lose situation for assistance to be forthcoming.
Alas, we might very well be stuck in this mode for a while yet if we don’t grow to appreciate the value of sportsmen in national development as we do our academics. We can’t continue to give them the impression that they are second class citizens when, in fact, they do much more than the average citizen to showcase to the world our best attributes, driven by our motto of pride and industry to be the very best we can be.
Those who succeed automatically lay benchmarks for the rest of us to excel and inspire us to help build a better and stronger country. They also draw greater attention to Barbados and this includes spin-offs to tourism which is a lynchpin of our economy.
The cricket legends and others like athletes Obadele Thompson and Ryan Brathwaite, and millennials like surfer Chelsea Tuach and tennis player Darian King help to give us exposure on a scale that professionals and our leaders can never manage. That alone tells us that they deserve more respect than they usually get.
However, we will only come to this juncture if we create the culture that president of the Barbados Olympic Association, Steve Stoute, always refers to.
It is his contention that there would be fewer challenges and barriers to the development of sports if we buy into the true meaning of sports. Perhaps, there would be greater investment, financial and otherwise, in our sports product if we recognise what it also contributes to the social fabric of the country.
Just imagine what could happen if we aren’t able to keep youth, in particular, constructively engaged. Mightn’t the level of deviance be multiplied? Wouldn’t there be more financial burden to the state? Wouldn’t it make more sense to make the kind of investment in sports to forestall colossal damage to our social landscape?
How many lives have sports been able to shape, redeem, reform and save over the years? These are some of the questions than can guide us to formulate and make better decisions in plotting the way forward in sports.
Not only that, but wouldn’t it be beneficial if the powers that be put the long mooted sports policy in place that would provide concrete guidelines, a sort of mission statement about how we expect our sporting class to proceed.
Also, what resources would be made available in areas of training and preparation for major tournaments, and what incentives would be provided that can be used to help motivate them.
Buying into the general philosophy about the good of sports is fine but the sports culture would be truly defined if the national sports policy comes into play.
I believe it is also essential for more federations to employ full-time staff to oversee their plans. It is possible that opportunities are being missed because people in non executive posts may not be able to follow up certain developments simply because they don’t have the time because of other commitments.
The area of doing year-long fundraising activities to help themselves must also be considered. The odd fish fry and sponsored walks won’t cut it in these times. This needs to be explored even more at a time when Government is cash-strapped and cannot, even though it might want to, support the efforts of over 50 sporting organisations.
We must bear in mind that they have other major commitments as well to deal with and the same thing applies to the corporate sector which makes pledges to institutions other than sports which they have to honour.
However, all of the above will be counterproductive if the sportsmen and women don’t show the necessary commitment to justify the help they crave. That, too, is an integral part of creating a viable sports culture.
• Andi Thornhill is a veteran sports journalist.