This country’s Minister of Sport – Frederick Stephenson wants to see a wholesome return of competitions here, in the shortest possible time frame.
Stephenson expressed the sentiment last Saturday as he viewed the hosting of Team Athletics SVG’s National Championships at the Diamond Track Facility.
“I want to see all sporting disciplines getting back in full pretty soon rather than later… I am looking for the sporting facilities opening back up in full, once the necessary health protocols are in place and we follow the protocols,” Stephenson expressed.
“We had the VPL that went well despite we had a little controversy because some persons did not do the necessary social distancing, (but) I am hoping that Football, Cricket, Basketball and Netball get back to their full operation”.
And while he “…would like to see the stadiums (sporting facilities) filled again,” he admitted that there are some hard courts that are yet to open.
He noted, however, that any full return of sporting competitions is contingent on the reduction on the number of active coronavirus cases here.
Apart from the actual active competitions, Stephenson alluded to people involving themselves in more physical activities.
Diamond Track Facility
Delighted with what took place at the Diamond Track Facility on Saturday, Stephenson commented, “This is a great improvement to what we have had before …The athletes are performing well and are making use of this Athletics facility here at Diamond… I know this would augur well in terms of the development of Athletics here in St Vincent and the Grenadines”.
Stephenson expressed optimism that with Team Athletics SVG leading the way, other major Track and Field events will be hosted at the facility in the not too distant future.
“I am hopeful that the schools will come out later on this year and early next year to do their internal championships and which will culminate in the big Inter- Schools’ Championships held here next year for the first time”, Stephenson projected.
Last Saturday’s National Championships was the first major event held at the Diamond facility since its official opening last November.
Source : The Vincentain Newspaper