Hope for tomorrow

St Vincent and the Grenadines’ participation in the 49th edition of the Junior Carifta Games and the 35th Carifta Swimming Championships in Jamaica and Barbados respectively, over the traditional Easter weekend, was a time of rejoicing for many Vincentians who follow the events.

Yes, the track and field athletes and the swimmers did not come away with gold medals, neither did they shatter any of the championships’ records.
So, what then made Vincentians proud and caused them to wear smiles?

To put things into perspective, it was one of the best outings for both representative teams and for track and field, the most medals at a Carifta Games.

Although it does not take much for Vincentians to be happy for small achievements especially in sports, the five medals pouched at the Jamaica outing and the three secured by our swimmers who competed in Barbados were sufficient to turn people’s frustrations to a short burst of joy.

Whilst to some, gaining eight medals in total may not seem as any achievement to jump and wave, it pointed to improvements over previous years.

Similarly, one has to laud the young swimmers for at least showing the heavy weights of regional swimming that some developments are taking place here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

This is not to establish though that one bright day makes it Summer, but to laud the achievements of our young people, who are sometimes maligned whenever they fall short of societal expectations.

Commendations are in order for Keo Davis, who won silver in the Under-17 Boys 200m and bronze in the 100m. Likewise, Uroy Ryan who copped silver in the Under-20 Boys Long Jump, while Verrol Sam took bronze in the Under-20 Boys High Jump, as well as Amal Glasgow who gained a bronze in the Under-20 Boys 400m.

Among the swimmers, Kennice Greene stashed a bronze in the 50m Freestyle; Brandon George had a bronze in the 100m Backstroke and Greene, Kevern Da Silva, Zariel Nelson and Jamie Joachim earned silver in the 4 x50m Freestyle.

It is noteworthy that all swimmers who gained medals, swam in the 13 to 14 age group, which augurs well for continuity for another three years at the Carifta level.

To the good as well, nine national records were re-established.

Overall, it was exhibition of talent, as indeed Vincentian sportsmen and women are at a disadvantage, having to compete against those with more up to date training and competition facilities, wider corporate and government support and of course, an endemic sports culture.

Therefore, our young men and women are making most of the little, a trait that has greater national significance than just sports.

But as the performances of our track and field athletes and swimmers soak in, there is always the inevitable, that is, we have been there before and seen this before.

Admittedly, the efforts of our young sporting ambassadors over the Easter weekend, have somewhat sparked interests in both disciplines.

Undoubtedly, mass media has helped Vincentians and others to get that instant view and assessment of their output whether on the track or in the pool.

The exposure threw the young sportsmen and women in the spotlight, especially those in track and field, as a number of schools in Jamaica are already lining up, chasing after them.

That is a developing trend, and one that is helping our track and field stock. There will always be criticisms, the pros and cons of decisions taken to have some of our budding athletes head off to Jamaica to attend school and at the same time, develop their craft.

Those decisions taken by athletes, parents and coaches are bearing fruit as in the most recent case, three of our medallists- Ryan, Sam and Glasgow, are all attending school there. Not to forget the massive improvements that Handal Roban accrued since his move to that country.

One, though, cannot also slight the positive impact that the synthetic track at Diamond has had on the sport. Undoubtedly, that track has spurred enthusiasm among young athletes, giving them a booster shot to take their talents a notch higher.

The ball is in everyone’s court; they should saddle up and ride on the sporting vibes that are infecting the country now that things are opening up.

National sporting associations, the SVGOC, the National Sports Council, and more so the government apparatus should take this baton and run with it.

No one wants to hear anymore blarney, rhetoric and promises when it suits policy makers in the air of celebration.

Our young sportsmen and women are showing you that they are willing to put in the hard work; the rest is yours.