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Julian Alfred’s extraordinary achievement at the Paris Olympics has reignited interest in sport on the island and the potential of our young people to become world champions.Just like herself. Lately, we have heard political leaders trumpeting their support for the development of sports in Saint Lucia and their plans to promote it.
However, with only three weeks left until the start of the new school year, it would be ideal to hear from the Government on the physical education curriculum for the 2024/2025 school year. We are aware that a review of the Saint Lucia Education Act was initiated two years ago due to concerns that the Act no longer met Saint Lucia’s vision for education or the needs of a modern education system.
Such a review would certainly raise questions about the Government’s Sports Plan, which according to reliable sources may not be as strong or comprehensive as it is portrayed to be. While the Government supports independent grassroots programmes in various sports, as well as elite sports programmes which do not cater to everyone but are supported by the Government, we still seem to lack a clear vision and strategic plan for the development of a National Sports Plan and its implementation locally, regionally and internationally.
It would be useful to understand the current state of sport from the government’s perspective: whether grassroots participation needs improvement, how our international sporting success is viewed now compared to the past, the stability of funding for sporting activities, and the state of our sporting facilities.
We must stress that a solid sports program brings many benefits to a country, making it healthier and more successful. Let us also not forget that many of Saint Lucia’s youth love sports, both as players and fans, and that passion has only grown since Alfred’s recent success. Alfred has proven that sports can be a powerful tool to achieve greater goals beyond personal enjoyment and achievement.
To realise this potential we need a comprehensive National Sport Plan with detailed programmes to increase participation and high performance. Alfred’s success shows that world-class sporting achievement is possible and with a comprehensive programme our athletes can strive for greater heights.
The Government must prioritize sports and conduct a thorough analysis of the current state of sports on the island. If the Government commits to prioritizing the development of skills among young people and ensuring that a significant number of children have the opportunity to participate in quality sports and physical education on a daily basis, the future of sports in Saint Lucia will be bright. The Government must aim high for our young people and sports enthusiasts and demonstrate their commitment with actions rather than words.
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