Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 09, 2009 Sports
By Rawle Welch
After telling reporters late last year in his year end review that the National Sports Policy is near to completion, the long-awaited document is still to be presented.
The Policy which could provide the stimulus to give sport the injection it sorely needs was suppose to be much closer after Minister Dr. Frank Anthony told the media that they were having extensive deliberations with other relevant stakeholders and a comprehensive document would be released shortly after.
The creation of the document was intended to chart the way forward for the development of sports across the board with special emphasis being placed on the input of various organisations concerned about the lack of meaningful progress.
So far, no word has emanated from the Minister pertaining to the state of the report and when it will be unveiled.
In the absence of such a sound, decisive plan it would be difficult to lift sport to the level of big business – which it is in many other parts of the world.
To use as an example Jamaica, the performance of their athletes at the Beijing Olympics and more recently at the Berlin World Championships, Usain Bolt and company were able to return home with over US$1million with the super athlete contributing considerably to that sum.
That figure alone tells the story of the ability of sports as a top money earner and the faster we get on board through a Policy that is geared to lift standards to the international level, the better off this economy would be.
Recently, the improved performances of athletes have guaranteed substantial salaries and huge endorsement fees and in most cases those monies filter back to their countries which ultimately perk up their respective economies.
It’s been long recognised that success in sport provides immeasurable value to a country, it makes it easier for everyone, especially those with the responsibility of marketing our products and services, boost the tourism industry which could rival that of sports if properly managed as well as serve as a major foreign exchange earner.
All of those are the derivatives of having a vibrant Sports Policy which is geared to produce athletes who can compete with distinction at the international level.
Tourism in Jamaica and Barbados has been able to remain afloat this year, despite the global recession, due mainly to the exploits of their athletes.
Another point of note was the Minister’s pronouncement of the need to create sports councils that could assist the Ministry in decentralising sports and making it more accessible in the outlying regions.
It would therefore be interesting to know whether those councils were ever formed and if so what the current state of that initiative is.
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