OECS Sports Co-ordinator calls for better planning

Denis James, Sports Co-ordinator for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), has reiterated the need for national sports associations to pay more attention to planning.{{more}}

James, a St. Lucian, made the call while addressing the Opening Ceremony of the 16th OECS Table Tennis Championships at the auditorium of the Bethel High School in Campden Park, last Friday evening, June 10.

James sees a relationship between lack of planning and some of the inactivity of some national sporting bodies.

James said: “We need to cater for our members through strategic programme planning to keep them active.”

He added that apart from their national operations, associations need to plan small activities, which in turn will mushroom into vibrancy.

The OECS Sports Co-ordinator also thinks that as part of the strategic planning, fund-raising should hold top priority.

“Programme planning could also help us in fund-raising and fund-raising in sports is an important element which helps us to participate in events,” James stated.

James made mention of the age-old problem of associations waiting on the last moment to find money to participate in competitions, when they have an entire year in which to plan.

He lauded the efforts of those who worked overtime, even on Saturdays, through teleconferences, to make the 2011 edition a reality.

The last time there was a sub-regional Table Tennis Championship, was back in 2008, when St. Lucia hosted.

James used the occasion to call on the Ministries of Tourism to be part of the hosting of sub-regional, regional and international competitions, as the spinoff would be beneficial to the entire country, and be a boost for sports tourism.

Apart from James, Minister of National Mobilisation, Youth and Sports, etc. Frederick Stephenson, President of the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Trevor Bailey and President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Table Tennis Association Alonzo Primus addressed the ceremony.

Participating territories were Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and host St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The British Virgin Islands also had a representative here as an observer, as they are hoping to host the 2012 championships.

The tournament, which concluded last Sunday evening, had Trinidadian Vasdev Bob Roopnarine as the tournament’s co-ordinator. (RT)