Local sports – the socio-economic factor

The recent announcement that the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation will be the recipient of US$1.3 million from the sport’s world governing body FIFA further positions sports as an economic contributor.{{more}}

Whilst it is a one-off bounty of funds, it should be seen as a boost to the financial resources of St Vincent and the Grenadines as a whole.

Similarly, the SVGFF is assured of at least US$250,000 each year to fund its annual programme of activities.

This is in addition to grants for courses and other development thrusts undertaken by the national association.

Added up, a tidy sum of money is channelled into St Vincent and the Grenadines’ economy.

Similarly, the St Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee, the local parent body that governs Olympic Sports here, draws down thousands of dollars from the International Olympic Committee, enabling the associations to carry out their programmes.

Also, some national associations have moved towards having a secretariat with at least two employees, which, although small, may assist with providing employment.

Several Vincentians are also assigned as officials to tournaments, course facilitators and the like at overseas events, and of course, they are given a stipend for their services.

When the reverse is the case, our hotels, taxis, rental services, meeting halls, caterers, tour operators, among other sectors, become the beneficiaries of whatever activity is being hosted.

The recent professionalization of the regional cricket structure has resulted in several Vincentian cricketers being contracted, thus earning a monthly salary, along with their match fees.

Likewise, the various community sporting events serve as avenues for hawkers, shops, and others in the cottage industry to get an opportunity to earn some money from fringing on the activities.

Invariably, the monies earned by the players would be invested and expended here.

This list goes on, as there are bits and pieces of instances where persons benefit financially from their involvement in sports.

But in extrapolating, the overall impact, whilst not captured within the framework of its input, contributes towards the economic viability of the country.

The trickle down effect blooms, as persons all around are to “eat ah food,” in the local parlance.

However, the contribution of sports to St Vincent and the Grenadines goes beyond the dollars and cents.

That social interaction of persons, the provisions of outlets for recreation, as well as the need for human co-operation are immeasurable.

Down time is utilized through sports, thereby lessening the thoughts and eventual execution of deviance.

But do the policy makers ever stop and think about the added value to the social stability of St Vincent and the Grenadines that sports imparts?

This has not been so, as successive administrations have skimped on their efforts in putting sports as a means of national development.

At times, it comes across that sports is a nuisance or some additional portfolio that carries the weight of insignificance.

Hence, the reason why it is a tug-o-war to get sporting facilities being looked after with expediency and priority, not-withstanding that the country’s financial resources are prohibitive.

It is for this said reason why there is not that serious dent in achievement, acceptance and prominence in the various disciplines beyond the shores of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The relegation may expound the tardiness in enforcing a national sporting policy equipped with meaningful teeth, instead of the verbal rhetoric.

Sports is an all-rounder, as it envelops several aspects of the person, the community and, by extension, St Vincent and the Grenadines.

This column therefore advocates that we should no longer adopt and confirm to the ‘what e’er the future brings’ approach to sports here, but instead seek to make our advances decisive and ordered.

Let us go beyond the confines of the sporting arenas and add purpose to the many derivatives which sports expend.