‘The plans are going ahead smoothly.’

The administrative machinery of the Annual Windward Islands Secondary School Games, which swing St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ way from July 25 to August 2, are well oiled, and all pistons are firing.{{more}}

Chairman of the National Schools Games Committee, Deputy Chief Education Officer Luis de Shong, told SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday that he is happy with the progress thus far.

“The plans are going ahead smoothly,” de Shong said.

“Several committees have been put in place, including Finance, Technical, Camp Sites, Security, Medical Services, Media/Protocol, Transport and Catering Services,” de Shong stated.

He said his committee has been blessed with the expertise of two experienced sports administrators, in the persons of former President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association and the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control, Lennox John, as well as former Director of Physical Education and Sports, Lynette Glasgow.

“We have two media specialists, Theresa Daniel and Anthony Dennie, who will be working closely with the officers in our Media Unit to build and intensify awareness of the Games,” de Shong added.

“We have also the full co-operation of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, with Inspector Johnathan Nicholls and his team crafting the security plans. An ambulance service will also be available to us throughout the Games,” the Chairman advised.

“We are working closely with the Ministries of National Mobilisation and Transport and Works and have solid support from the National Sports Council, with respect to making the venues available to us. We also have the full support of the officials at the National Lotteries Authority,” de Shong commented.

de Shong revealed that a meeting held here May 28, with representatives from the other three participating islands: Dominica, St. Lucia and Grenada, further fine- tuned the plans.

“The competition venues were visited, the rules governing the games and the composition of the teams were discussed and the representatives were satisfied with the arrangements,” de Shong recalled.

He said, in addition, a motion was moved to have a permanent organizing committee for the yearly event established from 2010.

de Shong stated that the venues to be used are the Arnos Vale Playing Field, the National Lotteries Authority Hard Court at Richmond Hill, the Kingstown Netball Centre, the Keartons Hard Court, the Biabou Hardcourt and the New Montrose Basketball Facility.

de Shong sees the co-hosting of the Netball and Basketball disciplines at Keartons and Biabou as a way of decentralising the Games.

“A lot of work has gone into the planning of the Games and we have identified two sites for accommodation: the Thomas Saunders Secondary School, will house the males and the Kingstown Preparatory School will be used to accomodate the females,” de Shong revealed.

He proposed some infrastructural adjustments to be done in time to the two sites, including the installation of additional bathroom facilities.

The Games are being sponsored for another year by Canadian Bank Note (CBN) and Winlott Inc. through the National Lotteries Authority.

The Multi-Sport Games will have competitions in Athletics, Basketball (male and female), Volleyball (male and female), Football, and Netball.

Zooming in on the Vincentian contingent, de Shong said the five coaches assigned to the various disciplines will knock heads soon to try to come up with the 48 members who will carry the aspirations and ideals of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

This country, unfortunately, has occupied the last position for the past three years.

While not sticking his head out, de Shong is looking forward to an improved performance from the locals.

“We expect to succeed and we are hoping for better performances,” de Shong said optimistically.

“As chair of the committee, I am urging Vincentians to come out and support our athletes,” he said.

He said that the revival of the National School Games Committee is part of the overall thrust of the Ministry of Education to put Sports and Physical Education in a central position of capacity building.

“Physical Education is serious business and we want to change the thinking about Physical Education and Sports,” de Shong projected.

The Deputy CEO sees a greater all round commitment from the members of the Physical Education and Sports Teachers Association (PESTA) as being critical in this cause.(RT)