National Sports Organisations mandated to setup Athletes Commissions

Following a one day Leadership Skills and Development Forum at the Paradise Beach Hotel last Saturday, November 9, 2024, affiliates of national sports organisations under the aegis of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee (SVGOC), are charged with the responsibility of setting up their own Athletes’ Commission.

Conducted by the SVGOC’s Athletes Commission, spearheaded by former St Vincent and the Grenadines stand out female middle- distance athlete, Kineke Alexander- Stay, the forum brought together representatives from various national sporting bodies.

Facilitator, Hazel Ann Regis- Buckels, a former Grenadian Olympian, noted that the establishment of Athletes Commissions is vital to forging synergies within the sporting landscape.

“This is a stepping stone. In order for us to make sure that our Athletes Commission is functioning; in order for us to ensure that activities are happening, we have to work collaboratively”, Regis- Buckels said.

Presenting the outlook of the forum, Alexander-Stay said, “The purpose of the forum is to equip each athlete and coach with the skills that they need to develop an Athletes Commission within their federation. As an Athletes Commission, we want athletes to know that they have a voice. Whatever sport that you are involved in, we want your voice. Any problem you have, you can find us, you can talk to us. In this way, we will be able to have a direct communication from each federation”.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of the SVGOC, Keith Joseph underscored that the purpose of having Athletes Commissions cannot be understated.

“The value of having a fair seat at the table of the executive committees of the respective associations- you can’t have sports without athletes. You can’t have sports without coaches. You can’t have sports without administrators”, Joseph emphasized.

The SVGOC’s General Secretary added that, “It is a critical component of every organization and we hope that what we are doing here [is] giving athletes a chance to feel that they are part of your organization, they are not there to fight the officials. They are not there to fight the coaches; they are there to work collaboratively to give of their best on each occasion they are called on to represent their country”.