Sports in the Caribbean

• The region has a very strong heritage in sports at the local, regional and international
level- teams/individuals have distinguished themselves in several sports over the years at
amateur and professional level; Major traditional sports are track and field (Cuba Jamaica,
Bahamas, Trinidad);-football (Trinidad, Jamaica); cricket (Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad,
Guyana); boxing (Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico); new ones such as swimming (Jamaica,
Trinidad, Curacao), badminton (Jamaica); martial arts (Jamaica, Cuba)
• It has become a major economic activity in region, generating income for many
individuals; avenue for economic linkages as apart from player/team there is need for
managers, trainers, coaches, nutritionist, doctor, administrator, grounds men, hotels, vendors
etc designer/manufacturers, psychologists, physiotherapists, transport,
• Enhance the physical well being of people. Physical, emotionally, psychological
fitness; lead to awareness in healthy lifestyle...renewed interest in exercise, diet etc...
improved health means reduction in health costs to countries/region as well as a healthier
labour force (greater production)
• Enable individuals to improve educational opportunities at tertiary level through
scholarships offered both locally to UWI, UTECH and GCFoster ) as well as North America,
Avenue for upward social mobility: world fame, status, income
• Promote Caribbean identity, pride, morale and esteem, life choices enlarged thus
empowering of people
• Development of good citizens: - develop qualities in individuals such as team spirit,
loyalty, camaraderie, dedication, flexibility, humility, discipline
• Promote regional integration through regional competitions (Carifta games, CNC,
regional football etc; breaks down insularity as different nationals come to learn and
appreciate way of life of others in region, cement lifelong friendship
• Contribute to the marketing of the region as tourist destination. Region is viewed by
people around world when we host international competitions such as test matches, world
netball championship, world junior games and when our teams visit other regions, media
coverage includes culture of the region etc
• Enhance our presence on world scene especially at major sporting events such as
World Netball Championship, Olympic games, Commonwealth games, Pan-American
Games, World Cup football, Special Olympics etc
Hosting international events such World Netball Championship, World Junior Games, World
Cup Cricket,-Test Matches, -World Cup Football,
• Income earned by players are spent in the country
• Boosts local support services such as air and ground transport, hotels and catering
establishments, food vendors, grounds men, security etc
• Governments earn taxes from income of individuals, consumption taxes, corporate taxes
of those who earn from supporting activities
• Promote sport tourism - regional and international visitors- earn foreign exchange
• Mandates refurbishing/construction of sport stadia along modem and internationally
accepted standards will encourage long term promotion of sports as facilities are on par with
international standards thus continued economic rewards from holding sporting competitions.
• Increase physical education and sports budget of primary and secondary schools in the
region
• Employ more qualified coaches in the schools; get more coaches certified /properly
trained
• Sponsor more competitions thereby increasing interest of young people
• Offer incentives to teams which achieve good results in various sports
• Enter into agreements with foreign/local institutions to accept outstanding
sportsmen'women
• Offer tax reduction incentives to businesses which sponsor sporting competitions
• Strengthen local sporting institutions thus bringing them up to international standards
• Forge government to government agreements as aid packages to Caribbean countries
with educational training as the focus e.g. Cuba offering scholarship for training in boxing,
field events, Jamaica offering assistance in track and field and netball etc
By so doing
• Life chances of individuals will be enhanced
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• Skills bank of the region will be available
• Reduction in need for foreign expertise (save foreign exchange as salaries will stay in the
region)
• Return of nationals will increase skills available to private and public sectors
• Nationals with new skills will establish enterprises which impact positively
• Skills of nationals drawn on by governments to act as advisors.

• Result in loss of sponsorship — businesses don't want to be identified with losing team
• Fans will lose interest and take their support to another sport
• Development of the game will suffer- decline in club membership can lead to* clubs folding
up
• Scholarship for budding young stars will be reduced as sport becomes unattractive to
sponsors
• Schools may drop sport from sports curriculum
• Indiscipline among young people may increase as sports instills discipline
• Positive presence on national. Regional or international level will be lost
• Create psychological problems which can affect performance

Challenges faced:

• Lack of resources: businesses involved in supplying equipment fail to specialize and so

athlete not offered highest quality equipment; unavailability of proper facilities, athlete denied access
to effective use because of 'day time commitment'
• Non-availability of information, research and reports to guide athlete on new trends and
technology
• Little government support in facilitating development, provide facilities, budget and
scholarship
• Inadequate sponsorship from private sector: need to participate through individual/team
sponsorship, league/competition, incentive and awards, construction of facility';, supply of equipment
and training workshops
• Lack of management and marketing skills: athletes need proper training, advice, and
management so trainers, coaches, administrators and managers have role to play.
These skills need to be provided to those in those capacities
• Lack of people support (spectator)
• Weak economies in the region: private and public sectors have burden to establish and
develop sports, cost is sizable and so poses a challenge so countries with weak economies
will have extreme difficulty committing to the development of professional sports in region
• Inadequate supply of trained coaches
• Not enough media coverage: media will amplify spectator audience, bring sense of
success and being to athlete, will play role to attract needed sponsorship
• Few professional role models
e Little understanding that players have to be nurtured from young age in sporting
discipline