Bright Sparks

Sports in the South East belt of mainland St. Vincent, are set for a rebirth.{{more}}

This follows a joint effort of the Jems Progressive Organisation and the South East Development Inc. (SEDI), who staged a two-day Community Development and Sports Extravaganza on Sunday, October 24 and on Independence Day.

The days’ proceedings included Football, Softball Cricket, Athletics, exciting events like the Tug-O-War and the Wheel Barrow races, an exhibition Volleyball match, an exhibition Masters Cricket match, Netball and Dominoes.

Without any age barriers, participation was more important than the actual results, as fun was the order of the day.

When the events ended and the scores were tabulated, participants were awarded with bragging rights and trophies for their efforts.

Stubbs Seagulls took first places in both the Football and Softball Cricket. Home Boys, Stubbs – East, docked in second in Football, and second in Softball Cricket was Calder.

The Carapan outfit won the Netball segment ahead of Bonhomme, with Not Nice of Stubbs, the champion in the Dominoes segment and Shed men of Stubbs second.

Also part of the extravaganza, there was an HIV and AIDS exhibition of posters created by primary and secondary school students on themes of abstinence and reducing stigma and discrimination. The JEMS Youth Ambassadors for Positive Living manned the HIV/AIDS education desk, and conducted lively Question and Answer sessions for young people aged 15 and under.

“Sunday was great, and Wednesday was fantastic,” summarised SEDI President Albert Harry.

He further told SEARCHLIGHT: “I was really impressed with the large turn out of the men from the community”.

“It is not often you would see men coming out to events like these,” the SEDI President said.

“There was genuine participation of persons, they did not come for just for the sake of coming,” Harry commented.

Harry, while commending the entire planning committee, singled out Genita Lewis for her extra effort in making the event a success.

With the seeds sown, watering comes early in January when another such event will be staged, but with special emphasis on Track and Field Athletics.

Harry stated that a 20/20 Cricket Competition and a Football Competition are also on the cards for the new year.

The idea for the two-day event last week Sunday and Wednesday, came about in early August, when stakeholders and other concerned persons met in a consultation and came up with Sports Extravaganza, as a way to invigorate sports in the various communities.

The JEMS/SEDI Community Sports and Development Extravaganza was funded by a grant from the U.S. Peace Corps and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), with support from telecommunications company LIME. (RT)