The road to first world?

Earlier this year our cricketers — notwithstanding a mixed performance by the West Indies — triumphed in two of the Regional tournaments. And now, with a new and exciting tournament taking place in Antigua, we are poised to challenge for that championship too — (as I write this).

Then we experienced the glory of having our Soca Warriors in Germany. Everyone, and every business house was a supporter of the Warriors over there. Even Trinidad’s High Society was over there, expressing their newly discovered wonder that European countries like Sweden and England actually support their football, and actually respected Trinidad and Tobago’s football ( They certainly don’t respect anything else coming out of TT these days!). In the wonder of Swedes, English, Germans, French and Italians all dancing in the streets — some in body-paint and costumes-for football of all things — TT’s rich and privileged joined in with a little chip and a wine. They declared how wonderful it was to be part of that experience, once it was in Europe, not necessarily here.

These people, and the corporations they manage, will not be seen at sports events here in TT, nor will they turn out to celebrate any national triumph until November 2009, when it’s time to tootle off again — to South Africa. In terms of support and sponsorship, the TTFF is back where they were in 2003.

Then, any suggestion that we might be in Germany in 2006 was met with derisive laughter or a steups. And I know! I was the person trying to get that support and the sponsorships for local football. But, notwithstanding the glory of Germany, and notwithstanding that Senior Economists from local banks have published articles advising the TTFF that they must work now for 2010 and beyond, there is no commitment from any bank to support this mission. Apparently, these are personal opinions, not the view of the banks. Not at this time, anyway.

While every commentator has lectured the Federation on the importance of 2010 and beyond, there is absolutely no support for the CFU Under 16 Tournament starting here next Monday. Many of the visiting teams are fully sponsored. The Home Team — The Young Warriors — is not. Our Under 19 and Under 23 Teams — soon to begin qualification for FIFA Youth Championships 2007, and the Beijing Olympics 2008, attract no sponsors, and these are the Teams which will provide the players for South Africa 2010.

In Athletics, fast on the heels of our best-ever performance in the CAC Junior Championships ( held right here two weeks ago ), our Senior Athletes achieved their best-ever medal haul at the CAC Senior Championships in Colombia. All of this is gratifying news for our aspirations for Beijing 2008, where we hope — 32 years after Hasely Crawford - to strike Gold again. And as we write of Hasely, we note, happily, that we are just beginning to understand and appreciate the magnitude of his triumph.

Oh, I know, back in 1976 we all jumped up at the airport when he came home, and a local pharmaceutical agency presented him with a year’s supply of vitamins. But it was jump and wine, and hang your logo on his neck time. Hasely got no local support or sponsorship when he went to defend his title in Moscow 1980.

Today, and this is largely due to the “first world respect” given to the Soca Warriors in Germany, and to the interest first world media showed in Hasely’s support of the Warriors, we are now becoming aware of who is Hasely Crawford — in world terms. More was written in the local media about Hasely Crawford’s race last week than was written when he won in 1976. Check it out yourself. But a late awakening, even 30 years on, is better than no awakening at all.

Our mission now is to turn this fledging awareness of sports’ value to nation building into a force that carries us beyond the moment of triumph. This awareness must become a sustained drive which will provide the resources for all of our sports and all of our athletes to keep our flag flying and to ensure our future successes. And, indeed, to ensure an ongoing flow of qualifications and medals to keep us, as a people, proud of ourselves. Old talk and grandcharge will not do it. And it is not up to our athletes, or our administrators, alone to do this. Our athletes need to be trained, to have the right equipment, to travel to events overseas, and to go to school, or to their jobs. All of this takes time, and money, and we give our athletes and their organisations, nothing.

What consideration, if any, do you give to a 16 year old girl, who could be a future Olympic medallist, but who leaves school in the afternoon (when others are going home, or to the mall or the movies) to go to train until after dark, and then to travel to her neighbourhood, walking the last half mile alone, then to bathe, eat and do her homework?

Her competition in Europe, North America, or even in Jamaica, is nurtured, assisted, and admired by the society in which she lives. Our girls and boys are unassisted and ignored. But let them win a medal in four years time, and the full page congratulatory ads. Resplendent with corporate logos, give the impression that these people were supporting this young athlete.

Hear Hasely Crawford on this: First of all, Jamaicans are patriotic, while in TT we jump on the support wagon only when our athletes are winning. ( Newsday August 2.) Sadly, our commitment to becoming a first world nation lies in building PriceSmarts, and MovieTownes, and saturating ourselves with lower-middle class restaurant franchises. We have a Hooter’s now our proud boast to overseas friends.

Who gives a Hoot? It is not this silly “bling” that will make anyone notice, far less respect, us. And it is not our government, nor our businesses, and certainly not our Judiciary, that will earn us recognition or respect. The first world knows nothing, and cares less, about all of that.

The first world knows about the Soca Warriors, Dwight Yorke, Hasely Craword and Brian Lara. And the first world respects these people. Who from TT will the first world respect when we have no Sports Stars? One day the Government and the business community will recognise the value of our sports and sporting organisations to our country.

They will have learnt that , as a small nation, our only way to a place in this world is through our sports. They should have learntthat in Germany, but apparently did not. So, we continue to work, and to live in hope.