::Grenada Sports::

[GRENADA OLYMPIC COMMITTEE]

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Jan 29, 2007 – The Grenada Government said it will embark on a programme to get more nationals physically active and involve in sports.

Sports Minister Roland Bhola, in delivering the feature address on behalf of Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell at the National Sports Award here on the weekend, said that the programme will ensure a change in the mindset and a greater appreciation for sports.

He said that they are looking to adopt and learn from successful models in Scandinavian countries like Finland and Norway.

“Reports from those countries show that just over 60 percent of the population exercise at their clubs three or more times per week. It also shows that 80 percent of the population does some sort of exercise three or more times per week and that 50 percent children between the ages of 13 to 18 are members of a sports club,” he said.

“This is what we want to see for Grenada,” he added.

The Prime Minister said that sports could be used as a tool for economic development of the region.

“I strongly believe that we must change old and out-modeled attitudes and beliefs and focus on the real value and importance of sports – we’ll then be able to understand the significant contributions that it makes to social, cultural and economic development of our country,” he told the audience.

Dr Mitchell, a former national cricket and currently chairs the CARICOM Prime Ministerial sub-committee on cricket, wants a structural approach in the development of sports in the region.

He said that sporting organizations must also understand the value of sports to the region, both socially and economically.

“This simple change in mindset could make a world of a difference in the way the various stakeholders in sports relate to and work with each other, as well as the manner in which they conduct themselves in the pursuit of their dreams and common objectives,” he said.

He said that the sports organizations should ensure that, at the very least, they expose their staff to professional training in the fundamentals of sports management.

US-based athletes Alleyne Francique and Hazel-Ann Regis copped the national sports awards.

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