media_artricles :: 2014

A reason to love sport

Come on Trinidad and Tobago. Let’s get serious.

We need a declaration of intent that we are serious about sport.

Its time people wake up. As was seen with the ongoing debate surrounding the constitutional amendments, the citizenry can come alive when they are sufficiently motivated.

Constitutional reform has been on the table for 50 years. People from all walks of life had their opinion and weren’t shy in making their opinion known. Democracy is very much alive and kicking here.

Alas, we can’t wait 50 years for the country to get serious about sport.

Sport is just as important as science, mathematics, law, engineering, medicine and politics. An active society can save millions in health. Just in the cost of obesity and life style related illnesses and health issues.

It can teach positive life lessons and values and in so doing offers the potential for savings on social dysfunctions and crime.

We have to change our whole thinking and culture about sport.

I see no reason why we can't create a roadmap that addresses the issues that may be unique to T&T.

There are many things culturally that we can adapt to our T&T way of thinking and behaving.

I have had some deep chats in recent weeks with young people, old people, people who care and those who don’t care one iota about sport.

Yes, there are people who believe that not one cent should go towards people who indulge in a hobby and for them sport remains just that—a hobby—a pastime.

One person even told me we are all a bunch of frauds, arm twisting the rest of society to pay for our vacations.

Extreme as one may feel such a sentiment to be, it’s worth mulling over.

The most outlandish of opinions and views can contain pearls of wisdom.

For those who are passionate about sport, it’s hard to accept that there are people who actually hate sport.

But people don't just hate sport, something had to have happened that made them hate or fall out of love with sport.

It boils down to their experiences and memories.

We need passionate supporters of sport. We need more people to join the relentless quest. People who will work hard to persuade every one of the marvelous qualities and benefits of sport.

We have so much going for us as a nation, as a society and as a people.

So how do we get over the obstacle of people not taking sport seriously? How can we get more people to fall in love with sport?

Sport is a national treasure. It is one of the crown jewels of T&T—part of our heritage.

Sport has so much potential that there is a huge amount to do.

How we present T&T sport to the world and link it to the umbrella of brand T&T is laden with awesome opportunities.

But alas is anyone listening?

Why are we squirming out of paying our full share of the bill?

Remember there are people who find sport people annoying. They don’t want to talk about sport. They hate it.

How do we get people to enjoy the experience of playing, talking, watching sport and even volunteering to help sport? An easy answer would be to suggest that national sport organisations should make looking after people a priority for the simple reason that people remember the experience, memories and relationships.

At all levels, be it the elite, community, social and recreational level people must enjoy themselves and be inspired and motivated.

We all want to love and enjoy what we do.

Those aren't mere words. They are the human emotions that act as a compelling impetus.

Brian Lewis is the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Olympic Committee.

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