I cannot think of a single Anguillian whose eyes were not glued to the television the day Shara Proctor competed in the finals of the women’s long jump at the Olympic Games in London. While Shara could not compete for Anguilla, because our constitutional status currently prevents us from having a recognised National Olympic Committee, yet our hearts thundered in our chests, our faces beamed with pride and anticipation, and we were filled with anxiety as she competed on the Olympic stage. Shara made us proud!
While Shara would have begun her training here in Anguilla, during her formative years as a budding athlete, we must admit that her presence in the international arena would very likely not have been achieved without the training she received abroad. As we bask in her success, it is my hope that we do not miss the lesson.
There are many talented athletes and sports persons here in Anguilla. Every now and then one of them defeats the odds and makes it on the regional or international stage. We recall, for example, our delight when Omari Banks made the West Indies Cricket Team. While for the moment we are often pleased with such accomplishments, we do not pay sufficient attention to what it takes for persons to reach those levels. It seems that despite some of the success stories, as a people we still have not come to grips with the need to make sports development a priority on the national agenda. One only has to look across the waters to other Caribbean islands to see how investing in sports has opened doors of opportunity to many young people. We often tell our young people that they have to set goals and work hard to achieve them. But have we thought about what it must be like for a young person, growing up in Anguilla, whose goal it is to be a world class sports person?
In seasons of plenty, and in seasons of want, successive Governments have failed to put in place the necessary infrastructure for sports development. Though the persons employed at the Sports Department are very hard working, and passionate about sports development, the fact that the Department remains grossly understaffed and under-resourced makes it clear that sports is not a priority for Government. The fact that one has to think long and hard to identify at least one half-decent Government-owned sports facility in Anguilla is an indication that sports is not a priority. The fact that such heavy reliance is placed on struggling sporting associations to foster the development of sports persons, rather than having coaches in various sporting disciplines as full time members of the Sports Department staff, is yet another sign that sports is not a priority.
While we celebrate with those persons who excel, let us not forget the role we did not play in their success. It must be frustrating for a young person striving for regional or international recognition to train in Anguilla. The reality is, unless a person is born with exceptional talent and ability his or her likelihood of success in the sporting arena is minimal in the absence of consistent access to proper training and sporting facilities. Let us not continue to pay lip service to sports development. Rather, let us ensure that, when we tell our young people they can be anything they want to be, we put the necessary systems and infrastructure in place to provide them with the opportunities they need to excel. While Government cannot do this alone, Government must take the lead. When negotiating with investors for example, Government must ensure that MOUs include obligations on the part of the investor to assist in the development of sporting infrastructure. Surely, an investor who is prepared to invest tens of millions of dollars in a project should be able to invest a few million in constructing a sports facility in accordance with international standards.
Our entire community also needs to get involved. Local businesses, for example, can partner in the way that NBA has done for twenty four years with the Primary School Football Tournament. Community volunteers are also needed to serve as coaches. Once willing and committed, training opportunities can be provided for such persons to become certified coaches. We each can play a part in providing yet another avenue through which our youth can realise their full potential. If we don’t, then they won’t have a fighting chance.
