Making sport business

Smith received praise from members of national sporting bodies including president of the Tennis Association of Trinidad and Tobago, Hayden Mitchell.

However, Mitchell cautioned that the facilities, such as the new National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua, need to be properly managed.

He stated, “What now needs to happen is that the proper structure needs to be put in place… because all those things we have to do calls for a different structure, a different set of skills if you want to develop the sport as well as get full use and making here the hub for the Caribbean.” Mitchell said he has had discussions with the Minister on the issue.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation, Robert Farrier said Smith was extremely involved in opening the new National Cycling Centre in Couva.

Trinidad and Tobago hosted the Junior Pan American Cycling Championships last month at the brand new facility.

Farrier wants local sporting bodies to join forces. “I would like to see us come together as the NGB’s and all the stakeholders come together with a plan on how we are going to make our country proud at major sporting events and also how we are going to transform sport into a business.” On Smith’s performance Farrier said, “for me it is very satisfactory. I hope to see the progress moving forward in the next year.” Smith is also working to have the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba completed. The Stadium was originally scheduled to open before the International Cricket Council 2007 World Cup which was held in the West Indies.

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee president Brian Lewis applauded Smith for his effort thus far. Lewis said, “He has been a breath of fresh air, he has really reached out and tried to communicate with the stakeholders. He has tried to deal with things in an open minded way, he has been extremely enthusiastic. He has had some challenges; the economic situation has made things very difficult. He has really done the best he could, I think, in the circumstances.” While sport was allocated $602 million over the last year, Lewis acknowledges that stakeholders must make sacrifices due to the state of the economy.

“It is going to be a very tough year. Our sport stakeholders will have to make sacrifices just like everybody else in every other sector in the society in terms of helping the country get past the difficult times.” He added, “I would like to see some measures put in place to encourage sport entrepreneurship as part of a diversification of the economy. I think the sport business sector needs some deliberate thought and support in terms of incentives that would probably encourage financial institutions to support sport entrepreneurship, business plans and projects.” President of the National Association of Athletics Administration Ephraim Serrette said Smith has had a solid relationship with the body since he came into office one year ago. Serrette stated, “we have a very close relationship where he would communicate with us regularly based on what is happening and giving information.” Serrette said the local track and field body does not depend solely on Government help but seeks corporate help. Looking ahead to the national budget on September 30, Serrette said, “In TT we don’t understand the importance and the business of sport and what sport could do. So the allocation for sport for me would always be insufficient and when you get that support it has be shared among the different sporting disciplines.

My call would be for the National Governing Bodies to be become more self-sustainable, not to be too dependent on Government funding.”