JUDGE WANTS TO DO AWAY WITH PERSONAL AND GENERAL CATEGORIES

Woodrow “Killy” Williams, one of the judges of the 2008 National Sports Awards, wants the National Sports Council, the organizers of the Awards Ceremony, to drop the categories of Personal and General Attributes, and place greater emphasis on the categories of Regional and International performances.{{more}}

Williams made that bold revelation in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT last Saturday.

A long standing member of the judging panel, Williams said: “I personally believe if we are asking our sportsmen and women to strive for excellence, then regional and international should carry more points than local.”

According to the current system, 20 points are allocated for regional performances for both Juniors and Seniors, with 15 points and 10 points, respectively, apportioned for international achievements.

He also is taking issue with the stipulation that in regional competitions, 50 per cent of the competing teams or individuals must be West Indians, and for international competitions within or outside the Caribbean, 50 per cent of the participants must be non-West Indians.

Williams is contending that this is problematic as someone can perform well at these events and still cannot get points because of the stipulation.

“How can you weigh that up?” Williams questioned.

He further asked: “Why do personality and deportment have to be weighed so highly?”

The weighting system gives personal and general attributes, an overall 45 points. Sub headings in this category are General Deportment and Personality, Contribution to/Impact on the Sport, and Leadership Qualities.

The elaboration on General Deportment and Personality states: “State the extent to which you will consider the nominee to be exemplary in his conduct, commitment and discipline, on and off the place of play. Also, state if your nominee was reprimanded during the year under review for acts of unfair play or ill-discipline.”

“Do we want a person who is well mannered on the local scene or do we want a person who excels on the regional or international scene?” Williams asked.

“Remember, we are striving for excellence. So what message are we sending?” he reiterated.

“For me, the winner of each of the categories should be the person who promotes St. Vincent and the Grenadines most, especially regionally and internationally,” Williams, a Fitness Conditioner and Athletics Coach added.

In addition, he wants to remind the general public that as judges, they can only go on what is submitted by the respective national sporting associations.

Williams also has some advice on what the Sports Personality of the Year should represent.

“That person who gets the award should be someone who promotes St. Vincent and the Grenadines with his or her performance, and the best example dedication, commitment to the sport, and an example who others will strive to emulate,” Williams opined.

Following the annual recognition exercise, there have always been aftershocks, with persons not agreeing with the declared winners.

At the end of the 2008 Ceremony held last week Saturday, April 18th, one of Team Athletics SVG’s nominees, Pamenos Ballantyne, who failed to win the Senior Sportsman of the Year award, publicly questioned the result.

Over the years, there have also been questions raised as to the authenticity of some of the submissions made, and reports are that some submissions are sub-standard in their presentation, while others work to the detriment of the nominee.