You couldn’t ask for more

STVINCENT ANDTHE Grenadines was given a treat as the four representatives at the 2024 Paris Olympics, gave the Vincentian public much to share about.

All four- swimmers Alexander Joachim and Kennice Greene, along with track athletes- Shafiqua Maloney and Handal Roban, must be commended for giving their best at the very demanding and competitive global event.

Both Joachim and Greene posted the personal best times in the Men’s and Women’s 50m Freestyle, respectively. In the case of Joachim, he was able to shave off time from his national record. Joachim thus came away ranked 45th among his lot, with Greene earning a 42nd place, in her field of competitors.

Meanwhile, Roban finished fourth in his Heat and in the Repechage rounds of the 800m. Undoubtedly the top performer was Shafiqua Maloney, who wrote her name in the annals of Vincentian sporting history, becoming the first from this country to reach an Olympic final.

Indeed, the performance of Maloney rallied the nation into a frenzy of hope last Monday, August 5, as she made a quest to deliver St Vincent and the Grenadines’ first Olympic medal.

As such, there were several watch parties, inclusive of the massive turn out at Heritage Square, while reports are that the people of Richland Park (Maloney’s home community),had their watch party too.

Additionally, the initiation of “ Maloney Monday”, and the other trappings, all engendered that sense of national pride. But it was not to be, as her 1:57.66 was not enough to see her on the podium.

While a medal would have crowned off Maloney’s efforts, as well as those of Joachim, Greene and Roban, this must be recorded as the best, since St Vincent and the Grenadines began venturing out to the Olympic Games, back in Seoul, South Korea in 1988.

St Vincent and the Grenadines arguably left a mark on the 2024 edition, as thanks to the media, the efforts of Maloney shone through, and placed the country in the limelight.

Maloney though, in her humble way, announced that she was among the world’s best in the 800m, albeit she hails from a country that has small economies of scale; a population of about 110 000, no state -of -the -art sporting facilities and the other disadvantages- numberless.

However, as the Olympic Games end and the euphoria and adrenalin evaporates, it is back to square one.

This, as the Vincentian representatives return to their personal lives, their Swimming Athletics training, and in some instances the continuation of the academic pursuits.

The task now is for the government and private sector to liaison with the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee to chart a course for the country’s participation at the next Olympic Games set for Los Angeles, California, USA, in 2028.

We have to build on the hype generated by Maloney and company, and although replication is not assured, as a country we have to plan ahead. Therefore, a programme of funding for the best prospects must be done soonest as we cannot have champagne taste with mauby pockets.

For the casual lookers of sports and what obtains at the quadrennial Olympic Games, it takes years of investment and many forms of support to produce a sports man/ sports woman or a team that is capable of at least creating an impression at such a prestigious event.

Hopefully, the joy that St Vincent and the Grenadines experienced from the Paris Games, can be the beginning of framing of a national sports culture, whereby that compulsory and structured means of providing financial help, is put in place.

Wishful one may say, as St Vincent and the Grenadines is not blessed with unlimited financial resources, but a start can be a beginning of a national policy in principle, then practice.

Not reactive, but the call is out for government to make sports and the development of the youth population a central pillar for social cohesion and people progress.

As we wait for what is expected to unfold post Paris, Vincentians will continue to savour the achievements of the four representatives who were part of the July 26, to August 11, 2024 extravaganza.