Community versus Commercial Returns!

There was much to say, and varied opinions expressed, with the decision by the Troumaca Ontario Secondary School (TOSS), to shift the Bank of SVG All Leewards Athletics Championships from North Leeward to Kingstown. For many, it was an anomaly for an All Leeward event, staged in a different locale,  Kingstown, as since its inception in 2017, the event was held at the Cumberland Playing Field.

However, belatedly, the 2025 edition was shifted to under the lights at Victoria Park.

Obviously, the shift disrupted the psyche for some people from the North Leeward, who felt cheated out of owning the event that was conceptualized, hatched and executed in their community.

Apart from bringing all the secondary schools on the Leeward side of the mainland in a competitive athletic spectacle, the All Leewards Championships is an economic outlet for hawkers and other business entities in the North Leeward community, particularly, Cumberland.

With the perceived loss in commercial prospects, many became aggrieved and vented, using social media as their conduit.

Whether or not the host school’s choice of venue was the correct call depends on the objective of the championships.

Who would want to guess what was behind the decision of the hierarchy of the TOSS for opting to take the event to Victoria Park?

If we are to go by the reasoning of Principal of the TOSS, Christopher Sampson, in his address at last Sunday’s champions declared that there was no ulterior motive behind the venue change.

Sampson advanced that the factors which influenced the decision to shift to Victoria Park were physical, social, environmental, and financial.

Immediately, it was clear that the above-listed factors, were debilitating for some time, but an alternative venue was never pursued as community and sentimentality took charge.

Notably, Victoria Park is a more controlled venue; gate receipts are more assured because of the closed facility, possesses greater seating capacity and other amenities.

Maybe the authorities at the TOSS have recognized that the All Leewards

Championships has evolved into a calendar event, and with the boost in technology, its appeal and patronage have been incremental over the years.

Therefore, the move to Victoria Park may be one example of justification and vindication, given the factors presented.

Additionally, based on the simple eye test, the turnout was great, which in essence, translates into a surplus of funds for TOSS. As it turned out the TOSS ticked the commercial box big time. Given the perceived success of the experiment to use Victoria Park for the 2025 edition of the All Leewards Athletics Championships, the big question is, will the TOSS stick to their conviction or bow to public pressure and return to the Cumberland Playing Field in ensuing events?

The arguments for and against, the pros and the cons from the protagonists and the antagonists are merited, but it is what is priority.

Sporting events are emerging as business ventures, and schools here in St Vincent and the Grenadines are catching on and cashing in on the ventures.

The passion for athletics is again soaring and events such as the All Leewards Championships has spawned the introduction of an All Leewards Relay Classic undertaken by the Barrouallie Secondary School.

With the fever becoming infectious, the Georgetown Secondary School has initiated the soon to be held, All Windwards Championships.

So, as the debate and deliberations take place over the venue for the next All Leewards Championships, the balance and middle ground must be reached.

Like everything else, change affects one way or the other, but ultimately change is constant.