Aug 10
Wanted: A Single Caribbean Sports Academy to ensure future World Champions, Sir Ronald Sanders
3 Comments »On the basis of the size of populations and medals won, the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada would be ranked in first place in the 2012 Olympic Games in London with another Caribbean island, Jamaica, in second place – though with a larger number of medals. Officially, Jamaica is ranked at 24 and Grenada at 49…
Good points. We used to rely on raw talent to maintain WI dominance in cricket. Other nations invested heavily in cricket development–and eventually replaced us. Let’s make sure the same thing doesn’t happen with athletics.
But such an academy is already under development – in Suriname. What would be wanted is not the academy, but widespread support for it from the sporting communities in the member states and from governments and the private sectors. This year the CARICOM nations drew a haul of 7 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze medals. With the right support there is no reason why they shouldn’t be gaining maybe 10 gold medals and perhaps as much as 20+ medals.
There is a lot to overcome if this project is to be successful. Will we be able to see similarities rather than difference? Will we apply equity in such an academy? Will there be preferential treatment for big over small islands.
Even today, St. Lucian Darren Sammy seems not to be getting support from the larger islands in the grouping, in spite of his relative success. See newspaper blog of popular Caribbean papers.
As a small island man I wish the idea its best!