Are we really hosting WISG 2017?

Maybe there is work taking place behind the scenes, as St Vincent and the Grenadines is set to host this year’s edition of the annual Winlott Inc/CBN Windward Islands Schools’ Games in two month’s time.

If they are, then we can be assured an almost flawless execution of the multi-discipline games, involving Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada and host St Vincent and the Grenadines.

But it is rather a deafening silence that with the games set for July, there isn’t much to suggest, in terms of little alerts, that we are the host.

Persons who follow sports avidly will obviously know that the games are shared around cyclically and with the allocation, it is St Vincent and the Grenadines’ turn this year.

Whilst the games are seen as not a major event by some persons in authority here, they will have an impact on the social life of some Vincentians within the period of the hosting.

Over 200 student-athletes and officials from the other three Windward Islands are expected here for over a week of competition in track and field, netball, football, basketball and volleyball.

Hosting the WISG is nothing new to us, but ensuring that all the areas of hospitality – venues, volunteers, match officials and other contributory personnel – are covered is paramount.

Therefore, have all the facilities earmarked for the competitions had needs assessments done and are they up to scratch?

Are the relevant authorities and stakeholders aware of the staging of the WISG in July?

Being an efficient host takes tip-top planning, and SVG should not open itself to be at the receiving end of adverse publicity when visitors come into our space.

Other than the logistical planning and otherwise, our local student-athletes should be given all the technical and preparation support possible.

Knowledge is that some disciplines are already in training, while others are still to get off the ground.

As it stands, SVG cannot say with any degree of certainty that it can win any of the disciplines.

Not that there isn’t the available talent, but the lackadaisical approach in readying athletes for the games is glaring.

This perennial problem of last minute, haphazard manner of preparing such national representatives may well explain why SVG has been lingering in third or fourth place for the past years.

At least the home court advantage could be some encouragement to spur on the youngsters, making them more competitive.

However, this may be better said than done, as it has been proven that there is no science engaged in making sure that St Vincent and the Grenadines has something to show, by way of accolades, when the games are done and dusted.

Holding our own and giving value to the games, which reports say will cost in the vicinity of $ 400,000, are crucial, as there are pockets of resistance of the view that the values attached to the annual event are not commensurate with the financial input.

Anything short of being proficient from all fronts of execution of the 2017 Windward Islands Schools’ Games will just gave credence to a popular notion, that the event is an occasion for a glorified holiday at the end of the student-athletes’ school year.