Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
THE DREAM of many boys and girls in this country is to represent Jamaica in sport and, remembering that the distinction of representing one's country is one of the greatest honours that one can have, those who wish to do so should be encouraged by their parents, their families, those close to them and the country.
To those who do not appreciate it, sport is invaluable to a society. In fact, sport is an integral part of every civilised society.
As recreation, sport assists in the development of young people; in the competitive arena, it offers an opportunity to express one's self and to strive for excellence; it builds character; and in this day and age of professional sport, and particularly in a country like Jamaica, it provides an opportunity for a better life - for money in the pocket and a place in the society.
Depending on the success of those who strive for excellence and those who succeed, remembering that cricket stars like George Headley, Alfred Valentine, Collie Smith, Lawrence Rowe, Michael Holding, Jeffrey Dujon and Courtney Walsh, track stars like Herb McKenley, Arthur Wint, George Rhoden, Don Quarrie and Merlene Ottey and a boxer like Michael McCallum were and are still heroes of the people.
REACTION
Also, remembering the reaction of the people to the West Indies victory at Lord's in 1950, to the world record run of Les Laing, Wint, Rhoden and McKenley in the 4x400 metres relay at the Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952, and remembering also the mood of the people when the Reggae Boyz qualified for the World Cup finals in France in 1998, sport also has a great impact of the psyche of the people.
As important as sport is, however, it is not, and unless things change, it cannot be the priority of the society. In fact, when all is said and done, sport, certainly as far as those who participate are concerned, is only for a time, and those who play, those who coach, those who support, those who manage, and those who administer should appreciate that and accept it.
What is happening, however, is that the importance now being placed on sport is almost frightening, it is affecting the education of young people, it is therefore affecting the country and those with the power to change the present attitude had better stand up and be counted.
Apart from the number of youngsters who prefer to kick a football, bowl and hit a cricket ball, to run, and to be involved in the sport of their choice rather than to attend school and to study, what is happening in many schools today, what is happening in the majority of schools, is that more emphasis is being placed on sport, in performing in sport, rather than on education and because of that, in many instances, more money is being spent on sport than on education.
That money comes, not from Government, but from past students whose only concern is that their school win so that the names of their school will ring in every town, every village around the country.
The reason for that is simple: it is so that they can shout, 'That is my school'.
That is why, although they are generally unwilling to purchase a book for a student at their school, or to contribute to an educational project at their school, past students, generally, are always willing to purchase sport gear and equipment, to contribute to the salary of a coach and to contribute towards feeding, not of a few students, but of a team representing the school in sport or a promising individual.
That is why there are schools in this country, certainly up to a few years ago, who turned out champion runners, champion footballers and champion cricketers who did not know even the name of the headmaster and why there are schools that turn out 'students' who can hardly read and write.
What is happening today is that those in sport expect not only that the private sector must get involved regardless of their bottom line and what the expenditure means to them, but also that the Government of a poor country like Jamaica must fork out millions of dollars to support the development of sport regardless of, for example, the number of people without a roof over their heads and without running water, despite the babies and the old people who are suffering due to the lack of proper health care.
Sport is wonderful, it is important to the society for a number of reasons, it has, without a doubt, contributed to the greatness of this country, everyone boy and girl should be encouraged to participate, and those with the talent, with the desire to excel, should be assisted as much as possible.
Education is more important, however, and because of that, sport should not be allowed to take its place in schools, the private sector should not be expected to fund sports at the expense of every other need of the society, and although it has an obligation to assist, the Government certainly should not be expected to spend what it does not have on sport - not unless sport becomes an industry big enough to provide the Government, through taxation, enough money to lift the standard of education and among other things, to provide proper health care for the poor of the land.
