Unplugging the dead weights

Over time, the lack of vibrancy and inactivity, are causing some national sporting associations to become almost irrelevant.

Heading up the list of such associations is the St Vincent and the Grenadines Amateur Bodybuilding Power Lifting and Fitness Federation.

The federation, under the headship of Korean Williams, had been resisting change since 2007, when Steve Victory and John Mc Lean (both deceased) were willing to take charge of an unproductive and lame executive.

Their efforts were tumbled, although a body calling themselves “Concerned Bodybuilding Enthusiasts”, had put an executive in place.

But this executive was not acknowledged by Williams and company, who held on to the federation.

 Williams was re-elected to head the federation on March 26, 2011, at a meeting held at Fitness Quest Villa, with promised rhetoric to uphold and take the sport to higher heights.

Williams said then: “We plan to hold seminars and workshops, and I am sure that when the executive meets, our plans will come together and you will see bodybuilding moving forward as before. As the body and others who are willing to assist us with those personnel come together, you will see the sport moving forward.”

Six years after, none of the proposals and post-election promises have been fulfilled.

Neither can anyone say that there is a functioning executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Amateur Bodybuilding Power Lifting and Fitness Federation.

Instead, what has transpired over that period, is a virtual disappearance of some of the active bodybuilders, as well as the gyms.

As it stands, compliments the designs of Williams and her helping hands, for more than a decade, bodybuilding and weightlifting have been shredded to almost nothingness.

In fact, that this sporting discipline’s exists at all is only in the remembrance of its past exploits.

It may be therefore incumbent on the National Sports Council and the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee to step in and make an effort to get the sport back on track.

Whilst we live in a democratic country, persons who have assisted in causing the demise of bodybuilding and weightlifting should be kept miles away from any attempt at a revival of a national body.

But this, though, relies on if there are persons willing to take it out of the mire.

Similarly as well, the local Boxing Association needs to get its act together, as it too is suffering from a relapse into dormancy.

Yes, one is quite aware of the challenges the sport faces in terms of a proper facilities for the sport to thrive.

That, though, does not replace effort, creativity and ingenuity, in making the sport not only noticeable, but attractive to potential boxers.

This untenable state of boxing also needs to be addressed by the relevant authorities, who possess the local governance structure to the international bodies, in this case the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee.

And, in recent times the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association seems to be busy making an application to join the bunch of delinquents and dead weights.

Tennis is slowly positioning itself down the ladder of popularity, such that if something is not done drastically, its eulogy will be penned and read.

But before making such eternal pronouncement, a distress call must be mounted again to get the latter to shape up and make the sport good again.