National Paralympic Committee Head makes a Sports-for-all Plug

Rudi Daniel, who heads the National Paralympic Committee of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), wants to see a concerted effort to have sports for all.

Therefore, he is calling on the powers that be to have inclusive sports, noting that it is an “imperative”, not a “luxury”.

In championing the cause, Daniel who shared his views via a release from his organization, underlined the disparity and neglect for persons with disabilities.

“In a nation that proudly champions outdoor competition, we have built a sporting culture that celebrates the strong, the fast, and the able-bodied, but overlooks many of our own citizens. If sport is truly about national pride, discipline, and unity, then it cannot remain a privilege for some while being inaccessible to others,” Daniel stated.

Daniel thus pointed to the recent declaration by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines of its decision not to proceed to build an indoor multiplex facility at Arnos Vale, in time to host the Americas Netball Qualifiers this October. This, after St Vincent and the Grenadines had won the bid to host the tournament.

Daniel deemed it a missed opportunity.

“The recent missed opportunity to accommodate international netball competition highlights a troubling lack of strategic thinking at the Government level. When infrastructure fails to meet required standards, opportunities simply pass us by. With the right facilities, many more international competitions could be hosted on our shores. Without them, there is no sports tourism, no steady influx of visiting teams and supporters, and no international recognition, Daniel pointed out.

“We cannot speak of economic diversification while ignoring one of the fastest-growing global sectors, sport-based travel and events. This is not merely an infrastructure issue; it is a philosophical one.”

Daniel further reasoned that an indoor sporting facility for St Vincent and the Grenadines, advances all.

“The absence of indoor sporting facilities has quietly restricted development, not only for persons with disabilities, but for the nation as a whole. Outdoor fields alone cannot sustain a modern sporting ecosystem,” he pointed out.

“ Many adaptive sports require controlled environments for accessibility, safety, and equipment storage. Without indoor venues built to international standards, entire categories of sport simply cannot take root”, he added.

Continuing to extol the benefits of an indoor sporting arena, Daniel also said, “Indoor facilities expand opportunities for youth engagement, talent identification, coaching education, and community recreation. They protect against weather disruptions, extend training hours, and diversify sporting options. Investment in accessibility is not a cost for a minority; it is an upgrade for the majority”.

Daniel thus concluded that true national strength is not assessed “by how we celebrate the fastest among us, but how we empower all of us”.