Tony Becca, Contributing Editor
JAMAICA'S ACHIEVEMENTS in the world of sport are the envy of the world.
In fact, when one looks at its achievements in almost every sport and particularly so in track and field, cricket, football, boxing and netball, when one looks at its size and at its economy, it is second to none.
Why is that so? According to those who obviously believe that God is a Jamaican, it is simply because Jamaicans are talented - more talented than any other people in the whole wide world.
According to those who do not believe that God is partial, however, it is because Jamaicans place a lot of emphasis on sport, because they love sport, because they love to excel in whatever they do, because they always want to be No. 1 and because Jamaica has been blessed with governments that have always, to the best of their ability, supported sport, and also with a private sector that supports sport.
There is, however, one other reason - the presence of volunteers in almost every nook and cranny around the country.
The governments have contributed - no question about, and so too the private sector. Without volunteers, however, without these people with an undying love for sport, without these people with a passion for a particular sport, without these people who, without pay, make great personal sacrifices, sport may not have been so strong in the society and the great performances, the achievements, which we cheer may not have been.
Apart from not getting paid, these volunteers, these people who coach and train, who manage and motivate, and who serve as administrators in clubs or who work tirelessly in schools and in clubs, dig deep in their pockets and spend a lot of time away from their families in their desire to assist the development of sport and those in sport the boys and girls who are talented but who, so often, need to be guided, to be encouraged, and to be motivated.
VOLUNTEERS
Yes, governments over the years have contributed to the greatness of Jamaica's sport and so too and more so the private sector. The heartbeat of Jamaica's sport, however, are the volunteers the men and women who spend their time ensuring that sport remains strong, who spend their time ensuring that there are facilities and programmes for the development of sportsmen and sportswomen, who spend their time grooming and motivating our young sportsmen and sportswomen, and who, despite the sponsors' money, go into their pockets on a regular basis to provide a few dollars for such things as school fees, bus fares and lunch.
One such volunteer was George Prescod who died just under two weeks ago and whose funeral takes place tomorrow.
A former national footballer and Jamaica Colts cricketer, volunteer Prescod served as secretary and president of Lucas Cricket Club for many years, as manager of the Jamaica football and cricket teams on a number of occasions, as a member of the Jamaica Football Federation and the Jamaica Cricket Board of Control, and in saying thanks to him for his commitment and dedication, for his role in the development of Jamaica's football and cricket and the achievement of some of the country's finest footballers and cricketers, we should also say thanks to every one of Jamaica's volunteers.
