Congratulations to the government of Tokyo and others for being able to execute one of the largest global events on the events calendar during a pandemic. It was an opportunity again for humankind to demonstrate what separates us from the rest.
Man is the only animal that strives to be more than he is…it is the indomitable spirit within that makes him human.
Steven Lang
Barbadians although happy to support the 8 member team selected to attend the 2020 Tokyo Olympics – special mention to Sada Williams who missed out on qualifying for the 400m final by the narrowest of margins – there was the disappointment of not being able to experience the euphoria of a podium finish. The every four year post evaluation will now take place with the usual mouthings from government and supporting bodies to suggest they will work to ensure local athletes are ready for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
The obvious question Barbadians on the street always ask is why Jamaica, Trinidad, Bahamas, Grenada and a few other regional countries continue to produce podium ready athletes. A visit to those islands to see the stadia gives a first clue. In the same way a tradesman needs the right tools to satisfactorily complete the job, athletes need adequate facilities and ancillary support to be able to deliver and sustain top performances. The local national stadium is a sight for sore eyes and an embarrassment all Barbadians should share. When current and aspiring athletes have to attend or perform at the local stadium, it cannot be a positive physical or mental exercise. How many times have NAPSAC and BSSAC events had to be relocated to ‘cow pastures’ or cancelled in recent years because of the unavailability of the national stadium? What has been the long term effect of those decisions?
We wonder why there is growing cynicism and apathy shown by Barbadians? For as long as the blogmaster can recall both administrations – DLP and BLP – have given lip service to supporting sports in a meaningful way. The sports ministry is almost always attached to the most junior minister in the Cabinet. Case in point Minister Dwight Sutherland, before him John King. From time to time the BU family has joined others to inquire about the development and implementation of a relevant National Youth Development Strategic Plan.
The other challenge worthy of mention is the ‘professional’ sports administrators- a small group of individuals who are recycled at the various sporting associations, Barbados Olympic Association, Barbados Football Association, Barbados Cricket Association, Amateur Athletic Association and others, engaging in questionable transactions and behaviour with zero accountability. In the same way members of the political class close ranks to protect their own, so too sports officials in Barbados. The blogmaster has unsuccessfully reached out to several of them to encourage a blowing of the whistle on unethical and possibly illegal behaviour. Our athletes struggle to deliver world class performances, no fault of theirs but the administrators continue to enjoy the travel per diem, accommodation at 4 and 5 star hotels and other perks attached to roles. Enough already with the retort that administrators are volunteers.
The government and NGO bodies responsible cannot be serious about developing the potential of our young people and continue to commit inadequate resources to a relevant sports program. The benefits of developing such a program operating under the umbrella of a National Youth Development Strategic Plan are well documented. If we do not create an outlet for our young people to channel talent, it will give rise to problematic behaviours. Although there is opportunity for some to gain from athletic scholarships overseas, the majority will benefit from positive lifestyle choices and interpersonal relationships. It is a win win for the quality of society.
Despite challenging economic times government should commit to proportionately carving 100k from respective budget heads in the next appropriation exercise. Leading sports associations should commit to zero travel and 50% reduction of per diem to be reallocated to DIRECTLY support to the athletes. This is a simple suggestion to ram home the point that we we are doing is not working.
Our young people are no different to those from other countries, what separates them is the lack of opportunities created for them by the establishment. We continue to fail them. We prefer to engage in petty, partisan, political behaviour while the leaders of tomorrow are not prioritized.
@William Skinner August 8, 2021 9:01 AM “I’ll bet a million dollars that if we had won one medal, those who refuse to rebuild the national stadium would be at the airport taking all the credit. And I mean from both the Dees and the Bees.”
I second that.
Our young athletes and their dedicated coaches need practical help.
About 15 years ago I was often at the stadium on evenings with a young athlete, many of them had to take the bus home after practice, sometimes 2 buses. Some walked a mile or more home after a long day at school, and a long evening of practice at the stadium, and still homework to be done on reaching home. In the meantime a bus, donated I believe by the IOC sat in a parking lot at Wildey. Once my own young athlete was made to pay busfare, because “free” that is tax-funded busfares for students ends at 7 pm, and the transport board driver at the busstop close to the stadium rigidly enforced the 7.pm rule just as though the youngster had been liming in town. It is 7:05 you are still in school uniform then you must pay. Of course some of the athletes become discouraged. It is truly amazing that some have the courage to continue.
The two youngsters to whom I was close have gone on to do excellent work at their respective universities, but local support is shamefully lacking.
Please note that this in not a criticism of the young athletes nor of coaches whom I found to be amazingly dedicated.
Of course the track at the new Usain Bolt stadium does not meet Olympic standard–not long enough.
Officialdom–they know who they are–need to listen to the coaches and to the athletes. My impression is that there are too many seat warming, status seeking officials, and not enough people with a passion for sport and for youth development.
@David “but the administrators continue to enjoy the travel per diem, accommodation at 4 and 5 star hotels and other perks attached to roles.”
I hadn’t even read this when I wrote my piece.
@Donna August 9, 2021 6:14 AM “Bunch o’ ordinary old farts! ##@@%$*&^@€£₩¥!”
I second this.
Advice to Bajans (co·mor·bid·i·ty champions)
if everyone made the effort to be fit with daily practise of 1-2 hours
and fittest of the fittest youths in their bprime condition competed for athletic selection
there would be more world class champions like Jamaicans
Even In Kenya and Ethiopia most of their the athletic champions come from a certain tribe and region. In other words your average Kenyans are not potential world class beaters.
@ TLSN August 8, 2021 1:42 PM “All of our problems are structural. Has anybody seen the trajectory in the financial growth and the marketing of Mount Gay rum since the French took possession of it?”
And since the French had the good sense to hire on MERIT a black, female Bajan master blender…instead of one of the old boys “who went school wid dem”
I wonder how many of the BU boys would have hired on MERIT a young, black Bajan woman?
@David. I would rather have economic prosperity and glory for
my people than sporting glory and poverty. And winning medals at international sporting competition, just add icing on the cake. I am sure Singaporeans are not beating themselves over their poor showing in Tokyo.
Andre De Grasse was born in Scarborough, Ontario.His mother, Beverley De Grasse, was a high school sprinter in Trinidad and Tobago before she moved to Canada at age 26.His father, Alexander Waithe, moved from BARBADOS to Canada as a teenager.
Maybe we can claim Andre. He is certainly, like many, many of my nieces and nephews a Bajan by descent. Some of them are Bajans at heart. A couple of them visiting with me right now and working remotely. I am enjoying their company.
Alexander Waithe died recently.
Andre De Grasse (born November 10, 1994) is a Canadian sprinter. A six-time Olympic medallist, De Grasse is the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 m and also won the silver in the 200 m in Rio in 2016. He also has four Olympic bronze medals, placing third in the 100 m in both the 2016 and 2020 games, as well as placing third in the 4×100 m relay in 2016 and 2020.
He was the double Pan American champion and the NCAA champion in the 100 m and 200 m. De Grasse won the bronze in the 100 m and the 4 × 100 m relay at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing. He also won the bronze in the 100 m and the silver in the 200 m at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha. He is the current Canadian record holder in the 200m, running a 19.62 in Tokyo, making him the eighth fastest man in history in the 200.
The Bajan men on here piss parading, so lemme ask wunna a question
What positive influence if any did the Bajan father have with this superb athlete?
And lemme ask the BU men, were it not for his Trinidadian mother would he be a star athlete?
I await your responses.
RE To be serious, to attend the Olympics as a competitor is a great achievement. We should applaud their effort.
To be serious, I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ALSO GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS THAT WE SHOULD ALSO APPLAUD ,, BUT WE DENIGRATE AND PULL DOWN DAILY
HILARIOUS
AFTER THIS BULL SHIT ARTICLE TODAY IN 2024 OUR AFFLETES WILL BE RUNNING BACKWARDS DE SAME WAY AS IN 2021
AND THE BU BARKERS AND BRAYERS WILL STILL BE STILL DENIGRATING AND PULLING DOWN
@GP August 8, 2021 2:36 PM “THE CURRENT DECLINE OF OUR NATION IS MOST LIKELY DUE TO DEFICIENCIES IN OUR MOTHERS WHO ARE NOW MOSTLY CARREER WOMEN, AND THE LACK OF PROPER EXPERIENCED GRANDMNOTHERS.”
It could be father absence too.
After all if both fathers and mothers are doing their jobs, there is precious little left for grandmothers to do.
And what about grandfathers? How come they NEVER seem to get a mention? Are they all useless then?
@lawson
A young athlete that I know of, chased the phone snatcher straight home and took back her phone from him. Then reported the matter to the police. Since he was young and foolish he was reprimanded and discharged. He straightened up and when he meets the not so young anymore gal in ‘town he thanks her for saving him from a life of crime. He has since confessed that he though that the young gal was going to kill him.
It is a pity that you let your phone go so easily.
Now Sweet Sunday Sermon has kicked the bucket BU should have a Mellow Monday Musings thread
The Book of Revelations is not the end of the world but is the end of the Bible and people can stop reading it.
Rihanna and Bolt became known for being top of their game.
Rihanna was like Madonna who out shone all other lady singers but in the Hip Hop tradition eventually matured into a business brand.
“In other words your average Kenyans are not potential world class beaters.”
Those who run walk and cycle long distances everyday are fitter than those that don’t. It’s all relative.
More Mellow Monday Musings
Privatised profits for prisons is the new slavery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LOghFtqx1g
In 2002 CAC Games in Barbados did any of you attend to cheer the unknown 15 year old Jamaican lad Usain Bolt on.
No???
Why not???
At the Summer Olympics in 2004..he failed to even make it out of his heat in the 200-meter dash.
But he took the Olympics by storm in 2008 at the Summer Games in Beijing. That year, he won gold medals in both the 100m and 200m sprint.
What support are any of wunna offering to our 15 year old athletes NOW??? Busfare? Lunch money? Transportation home after practice? A glass of water? Track shoes? A math or English lessons teacher?
Nothing???
A lotta long talk???
Come to the Cool Church
the DJ plays Hip Hop
Higher
You keep taking me higher, higher (Yeah)
But don’t you know that the devil is a liar? (I know)
They’d rather see me down, put my soul in the fire
But we keep goin’ higher, higher
Becoming best is an everyday process of becoming better
#TheMindsetOfAWinner #Motiversity #KobeBryant
THE MINDSET OF A WINNER | Kobe Bryant Champions Advice
Good morning,
I am in a good mood but feeling devilish..
How do you break a 16-year old record get five gold medals and not be the “Most Outstanding Senior Female”? Is she considered a Junior??
Aren’t Kobe Bryant and his daughter not both dead, dead, dead.
Isn’t it true that perhaps neither he, nor his daughter, nor seven others would be dead if he wasn’t so super-competitive that he seemed to believe that he could compete successfully against bad weather.
We all have to learn to accept limitations, even “winners” like Kobe Bryant.
Mother Nature has a million ways to ensure that we comply with established limitations, or else…
Despite the success of Jamaica in track and field, what are they complaining about you may ask?
https://nationwideradiojm.com/usain-bolts-criticism-of-corporate-jamaica-for-failing-to-support-athletes-prior-to-olympics-draws-mixed-feedback/
Source: Nation
Source: Nation
Source: Nation
Stephen Lashley be quiet!
Source: Nation
https://www.instagram.com/p/CSwVy72MHPd/
Stoute should know, he was part of the problem.
All these things are obvious. One’s biochemistry is only a part, albeit a major part of what makes a successful athlete.
Source: Nation
They never listen to those who have answers.
Attitude problem.