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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=center align=right width=321>THE WRIGHT VIEW
by Dr. Paul Wright</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=276>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2><HR><H2>What about the Sports Policy?</H2>
There are approximately 6 ? billion people in the world. To be the best in the world in any sport must mean something. The accolades that go with the achievement “best in the world” are well deserved. What irks me however is that when you are crowned the best, some of the wagonists include those who can make a difference.
They accept praise and yet do not (actively) do anything that will assist others in their quest to be the best.
A Jamaican team recently returned to the island with the news that in the world Tae Kwon Do Championships, we (Jamaica) defeated eight-time champions Poland 3-0. Yes 3-0. We, also beat Japan 3-0.
Does anyone realise how fantastic that performance is!
The combined Martial Arts Team known as the Busta Fighters (named after their sponsors), has already established Jamaica as a Martial Arts all-conquering Nation! Wow!
Now Tae Kwon Do has done the same.
But what is the support from corporate Jamaica/Government? Do these fighters receive any support at all?
One of the medallists in the championships was a 13-year-old Campion High School student, Tahsana Grannum, who finished third in the world.
Are we great or what?
To be a Campionite suggests a certain degree of academic excellence. That, coupled with excellence in the sporting arena must be congratulated.
But more importantly she must be nurtured and an attempt made to identify similar talent and expose it to the world.
What we do not seem to realise here in Jamaica, is the benefit to the nation as a whole, this type of performance on the world stage brings.
I’ve heard from different sources that a study is now currently being conducted on “how sport impacts the gross domestic product of Jamaica”.
Let me just remind readers that it is was as a result of this type of study that theAustralian Government stepped in and looked seriously at the development of sports in Australia. The result is that Australia leads the world in several sporting disciplines.
I suppose that Asafa Powell, Sherone Simpson and Veronica Campbell can be described as comfortable. They are well taken care of by Corporate Jamaica/Olympic Solidarity and the Government.
But our netballers even though they just received another donation, are still seeking help to find funds to prepare the National Indoor Arena before and after every training session.
They must now pay electricity costs in advance in order to continue to establish ourselves as one of the top three netballing nations the world!
Our Reggae Girls have now established themselves as a force to be recognised in the Caribbean and Central America and hopefully by next year be on the world stage.
Will they receive the support that they need?
I would think that doing well on the world stage would be equal to living on “easy street” with regards to training expenses, nutrition/medical expenses and equipment. But that is not so.Why?
When the World Netball Championships were held here, a modern, state of the art indoor centre was built. That was good. When the country hosted the Commonwealth Games many years ago, a diving and swinging pool was built. That was good. The Cubans donated the G.C Foster College complete with a swimming and diving pool and a modern indoor court. That was good.
So how come we are now hearing cries of woe regarding places to train and to play. The only people using the swimming/diving pool at G.C Foster are greeni
by Dr. Paul Wright</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=276>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top colSpan=2><HR><H2>What about the Sports Policy?</H2>There are approximately 6 ? billion people in the world. To be the best in the world in any sport must mean something. The accolades that go with the achievement “best in the world” are well deserved. What irks me however is that when you are crowned the best, some of the wagonists include those who can make a difference.
They accept praise and yet do not (actively) do anything that will assist others in their quest to be the best.
A Jamaican team recently returned to the island with the news that in the world Tae Kwon Do Championships, we (Jamaica) defeated eight-time champions Poland 3-0. Yes 3-0. We, also beat Japan 3-0.
Does anyone realise how fantastic that performance is!
The combined Martial Arts Team known as the Busta Fighters (named after their sponsors), has already established Jamaica as a Martial Arts all-conquering Nation! Wow!
Now Tae Kwon Do has done the same.
But what is the support from corporate Jamaica/Government? Do these fighters receive any support at all?
One of the medallists in the championships was a 13-year-old Campion High School student, Tahsana Grannum, who finished third in the world.
Are we great or what?
To be a Campionite suggests a certain degree of academic excellence. That, coupled with excellence in the sporting arena must be congratulated.
But more importantly she must be nurtured and an attempt made to identify similar talent and expose it to the world.
What we do not seem to realise here in Jamaica, is the benefit to the nation as a whole, this type of performance on the world stage brings.
I’ve heard from different sources that a study is now currently being conducted on “how sport impacts the gross domestic product of Jamaica”.
Let me just remind readers that it is was as a result of this type of study that theAustralian Government stepped in and looked seriously at the development of sports in Australia. The result is that Australia leads the world in several sporting disciplines.
I suppose that Asafa Powell, Sherone Simpson and Veronica Campbell can be described as comfortable. They are well taken care of by Corporate Jamaica/Olympic Solidarity and the Government.
But our netballers even though they just received another donation, are still seeking help to find funds to prepare the National Indoor Arena before and after every training session.
They must now pay electricity costs in advance in order to continue to establish ourselves as one of the top three netballing nations the world!
Our Reggae Girls have now established themselves as a force to be recognised in the Caribbean and Central America and hopefully by next year be on the world stage.
Will they receive the support that they need?
I would think that doing well on the world stage would be equal to living on “easy street” with regards to training expenses, nutrition/medical expenses and equipment. But that is not so.Why?
When the World Netball Championships were held here, a modern, state of the art indoor centre was built. That was good. When the country hosted the Commonwealth Games many years ago, a diving and swinging pool was built. That was good. The Cubans donated the G.C Foster College complete with a swimming and diving pool and a modern indoor court. That was good.
So how come we are now hearing cries of woe regarding places to train and to play. The only people using the swimming/diving pool at G.C Foster are greeni
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