Good News for Netball and SVG

The announcement on October 29, 2025, that St Vincent and the Grenadines was officially awarded the right to host the 2026 Americas Netball World Cup Qualifier should come as good news to all.

As it stands, the country gained the votes and approval from members of the Americas Netball Region, paving the way for the October 13 to 23, 2026 event.

But that is just the minor part, as the country must provide and deliver the necessary infrastructure on time.

This means that the Arnos Vale Netball Complex has to be retrofitted to a modern Indoor Facility in time for the qualifier.

Assurance though has been given by the current political directorate that such a facility will be constructed.

Significantly, that guarantee and word of honour from the current government was the critical factor in St Vincent and the Grenadines’ bid being given a serious look, granted the country does not have the covered facility currently to host a netball tournament of that magnitude.

Such is the seriousness and cutting it close scenario in which the country has positioned itself, to even contemplate putting forward a bid and more so, being rewarded with the qualifiers.

Persons will readily dissect the timing of the release of the good news of the country’s successful bid, given the current political climate of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

For some, it is worth taking another look, as the country will be having general elections on November 27, 2025.

Already, people are seeing the announcement as another use of sports as political ammunition and narrative of accomplishment that would aid the government’s quest for another term.

The commitment made and intent shown though are far reaching and have multiple implications on the next government of the country, as keeping the promise to the Americas Netball Region ought to be upheld.

Hopefully, the process of having the indoor facility in place is confirmed and is simply not a promise.

Conversely, should the results go otherwise, does that stand?

Anyway, the integrity of St Vincent and the Grenadines is at stake.

However, we as a country have been proven to come up trumps. Just jolt our minds back to last year’s ICC Men’s 20/20 Cricket World Cup, when we delivered on hosting of matches in the group stage as well as the Super Eights.

Like cricket, netball and other sports should be the beneficiaries of an indoor sporting facility, and if it takes general elections for us to get one, let it be. For years, Vincentians have been clamouring for a multi- purpose indoor sporting facility.

Promises have been made from time to time, but nothing has emerged tangibly. Hence, it may be opportune for the country to get that much need multiplex, hopefully if realized, that not only netball, but basketball, volleyball and others may have their needs met whereby they have a covered facility to carry out their progammes and competitions, dutifully.

Let us, though, give the authorities the benefit of the doubt that they are genuinely concerned about making their office count and that sports is at the centrality of their operations.

Looking optimistically, come October, 2026, St Vincent and the Grenadines will be blessed with an indoor facility at Arnos Vale. Convenience sometimes necessitates action.