Barbados should be represented at the Olympic Games – at all costs.
Olympian Elvis Forde has read and heard of the many criticisms regarding the performances of our Olympic representatives at the just completed Seoul Games, and while he takes these criticisms in stride, he has urged the authorities to dismiss any suggestion that Barbados not be represented at the Games.
“It would be nice if we could win a medal at the Games,” Forde admitted in a telephone interview from his home in New York, last night, “but that’s not the only reason to send representatives to the Games.”
He added: “I have been following the reports and what not and have been reading what some of the journalists say, and while I accept some of the criticisms about the team’s performance, when it comes to talk that we should not send representatives at all, I can’t accept that.”
Forde, who represented Barbados at both the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, asked: “If we don’t send representatives to the Olympics, what will our youth have to look forward to? I mean right now there is a serious problem with drugs and our youth. If there is one thing that can keep them away from these things it is sport. And if they are going to get seriously involved in sport, they must have something to look forward to.
“Even at primary school level, where incidentally, I think more attention has got to be paid, we should offer the youngsters more medals and prizes. It makes a whole lot of difference to a basketballer, footballer or whatever it may be to be able to take home something to show his parents when the day is done.”
The 28-year-old quarter-miler agreed there was a need for better preparation before major meets, and felt the potential was there to win a medal at the Games.
“It is alright to just say ‘don’t send anyone to the Games’, but what about the athlete or volleyball player or yachtsman who has been putting in a lot of training? He may not be world class, but as long as we can get the funds, we should make sure we are represented,” Forde added.
Forde only reached the second round in the 400 metres in Seoul, clocking 46.3 seconds – more than a second slower than his 45.2 seconds at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, and while he was disappointed, felt the competition was tougher this year.
On this point, he noted that the Barbadian contingent only arrived in Korea shortly before the Games started and did not have enough time to adjust.
“The competition was tougher – no doubt about that, but there was too little time to adjust, and it was only towards the end of the Games that we got accustomed to the time difference.”
SUNday, Forde makes a couple suggestions to improve the AAA.
