CARICOM cannot afford to keep Sport on the sidelines

by Michael Bascombe

As Caribbean Heads of Government meet in St Lucia for the 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, they do so at a moment when the world is once again witnessing the extraordinary power of sport.

The FIFA World Cup has captured the imagination of millions, including throughout the Caribbean. Beyond the excitement of goals, flags and national pride, the tournament reminds us of the enormous social, cultural and economic value of sport. It drives tourism, media, business, employment, national branding and youth aspiration. The Caribbean may not be in a position to stage an event of that scale, but we should not miss the larger lesson: sport is not merely entertainment. It is development.

That is why sport, in general and not just cricket, should have a meaningful place on the CARICOM agenda.

The qualification of Haiti and Curaçao among the 48 teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup should be a powerful signal to the region. Haiti’s presence, despite the country’s immense national challenges, is a reminder of the hope, resilience and pride that sport can generate. Curaçao’s historic achievement shows that small Caribbean nations, when properly organised and supported, can compete successfully on the world stage.

But the argument extends well beyond football. Caribbean athletes continue to distinguish themselves in international track and field, while encouraging progress is being made in cycling, swimming, boxing, netball, basketball, volleyball and other disciplines. Too often, these successes are achieved despite weak systems, limited funding, irregular competition, and insufficient athlete support.

Governments across the region have invested in stadiums, tracks, courts and other facilities. That investment is important. However, infrastructure alone cannot transform sport. Facilities must be supported by clear policies, school and community programmes, coaching development, sports science, athlete welfare, regional competitions, private-sector partnerships and stronger use of the Caribbean diaspora.

Sport can help reduce youth vulnerability, improve public health, strengthen national identity, expand economic opportunity and deepen regional integration. It deserves to be treated as a serious pillar of development.

CARICOM must therefore move sport from the margins to the centre of regional planning. The Caribbean has the talent, the passion, the history and the global presence. What is now required is political will, coordinated policy and sustained investment. 

Bruno-Victor calls for greater investment in regional sport as OECS Championships return

by Michael Bascombe

BASSETERRE, St Kitts, July 4, 2026 - Vice-President of PanAm Sports, Veda Bruno-Victor, has urged Caribbean governments and regional leaders to prioritise sport on the development agenda, warning that the high cost of regional travel continues to limit opportunities for athletes across the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Speaking during Saturday's opening ceremony of the revived Association of National Olympic Committees of the OECS (ANOCES) OECS Track and Field Championships in St Kitts and Nevis, Bruno-Victor said expensive inter-island travel remains one of the greatest barriers to athlete development and regional competition.

She explained that the issue emerged repeatedly during discussions with National Olympic Committees (NOCs) from across the Caribbean at the start of the current Olympic quadrennial in 2025.

"One issue was consistently raised by the members of the OECS National Olympic Committees - the lack of regular regional competition across many sports," she said.

According to Bruno-Victor, the financial burden associated with international competition prevents many athletes from competing regularly, gaining valuable experience, and improving their international rankings.

"The high cost of international participation often limits our athletes' opportunities to compete, gain valuable experience and improve their international rankings," she said. "Without these opportunities, many talented athletes are placed at a disadvantage when preparing for major international competitions."

She noted that discussions among the NOCs also highlighted the important role that former regional competitions played in developing sporting excellence while strengthening relationships among the islands.

"It was recognised that the OECS once hosted regional competitions that played a significant role in developing sporting excellence and strengthening the bonds among our islands," Bruno-Victor said. "The members expressed a strong desire to see these Games revived, and PanAm Sports was proud to support that vision."

She described the return of the championships as the revival of an important sporting tradition that has inspired generations of Caribbean athletes.

"These Games have inspired generations, showcased extraordinary talent, and united a Caribbean family through the power of sport," she said.

While celebrating the return of the championships, Bruno-Victor urged regional policymakers not to overlook the logistical challenges that continue to hinder sporting development.

"Limited inter-island transportation, lengthy travel times and the high cost of regional travel remain significant obstacles to athlete development and regional competition," she said.

She appealed to governments throughout the OECS to recognise sport as a strategic investment rather than simply a recreational activity.

"Investment in sport is not simply an investment in competition," Bruno-Victor told the ceremony. "It is an investment in our youth, our health, our economies and our future. Sport promotes tourism, creates opportunities, builds national pride and strengthens regional integration in ways few other sectors can achieve."

Bruno-Victor reaffirmed PanAm Sports' commitment to supporting the continued growth of sport throughout the Caribbean and the OECS, expressing hope that the return of regular regional competition will provide athletes with greater opportunities to develop and succeed on the international stage.

Red Walters calls for safer roads and dedicated cycling facilities to develop the sport

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, July 4, 2026 - Grenadian professional cyclist Red Walters believes improving road safety and developing dedicated cycling facilities are important if cycling is to flourish in Grenada and across the Caribbean.

Speaking on the TalkSports programme, Walters said the region's greatest challenge is not necessarily the lack of athletes, but the absence of infrastructure that allows cyclists to train and compete safely.

He identified greater awareness among motorists as the most immediate and cost-effective step that could make a significant difference.

"I think number one is probably awareness from the drivers," Walters said.

He suggested installing warning signs at major intersections reminding motorists to be mindful of cyclists, particularly in Grenada where bicycles are not commonly seen on the roads.

"If you put signs up at every junction saying, 'Beware of cyclists' or something similar, then it's in the drivers' minds, and hopefully they'll give cyclists a little more space."

Walters also proposed designating sections of roadway exclusively for cyclists on specific days each week, allowing both experienced riders and newcomers to enjoy the sport in a safer environment.

"It would be nice if there was an area that could be closed one day a week for cycling. I think that's something that has worked in other places and would be a great way to encourage more people to get involved."

Despite Grenada's scenic landscape and favourable climate, Walters believes current road conditions make the island less attractive as a cycling destination for overseas athletes.

He explained that while early morning training rides can still be manageable, increasing traffic has become a growing concern.

"A couple of years ago, if I went out at five or six in the morning to do loops along the Maurice Bishop Highway, it wasn't too bad," he said. "The roads are a little bumpy, but they're manageable. The biggest issue is the traffic."

According to Walters, congestion increases significantly as commuters head toward St George's during the morning rush, making training increasingly difficult.

"When I come home for the National Championships and need to get my training rides in, that's the hardest part."

While acknowledging that velodromes are important for track cycling, Walters believes the Caribbean should prioritise a more versatile facility that can benefit multiple sports and encourage broader community participation.

He pointed to the experience of Barbados, where a velodrome was eventually demolished after it was no longer being used regularly.

"I'd hate to see something like that get built and then not be used," he said.

Instead, Walters proposed the development of a dedicated cycling circuit that could accommodate both cyclists and runners, creating a multi-purpose sporting facility removed from vehicular traffic.

"My dream would be a cycle circuit with a running path alongside it," he said. "Then it's used by cyclists and runners, and it's completely away from the cars. I think that would be the best solution."

Funding remains biggest hurdle as Grenadian cyclist Red Walters targets LA28 Olympics

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, July 4, 2026 - Grenada's professional cyclist Red Walters says a lack of funding, rather than ability or determination, remains the greatest obstacle in his quest to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Walters, who is preparing to represent Grenada at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, spoke candidly about the financial realities of competing on the international cycling circuit during an appearance on the TalkSports programme on Saturday.

While his focus is firmly fixed on earning Olympic qualification, Walters admitted that the escalating costs of international competition have become one of the biggest challenges in pursuing his dream.

"Now that I'm trying to get to the Olympics, the costs are getting insane. It's ridiculous," Walters said. "I track everything in a spreadsheet just to keep up with what I'm spending and to make sure I have enough money."

The Grenadian rider acknowledged that when people ask what could prevent him from reaching his goals, the answer is straightforward.

"The biggest thing that would stop me from achieving my goals is if I ran out of money."

Competing professionally requires far more than training and racing. Walters explained that he is responsible for organising flights, accommodation, transporting specialised cycling equipment, and managing every aspect of his competition schedule, all while trying to keep expenses to a minimum.

"It's almost like running a business," he said. "I'm managing funding, booking the cheapest possible flights and accommodation, and stretching every bit of the budget to make it possible."

Walters credited sponsorship as the key reason he has been able to continue competing at the highest level. Beyond his performances on the bike, he has invested considerable effort in building his personal brand through social media to attract corporate partners.

"I put a lot of work into social media to create the kind of platform sponsors want to invest in," he explained. "Then I have to create content for those sponsors while also doing the work required as an athlete."

He added that sponsorship opportunities have occasionally arrived just when they were most needed.

"Sometimes I don't even know how it all works out. Sometimes I'll get lucky, and a new sponsor comes along just in time. That's happened a couple of times, and I'm just doing everything I can and hoping it works out."

Walters said he receives assistance from the Grenada Olympic Committee, although he is not currently part of the Olympic Solidarity programme.

His financial challenges became particularly evident earlier this year when geopolitical tensions disrupted his competition schedule.

Walters had planned to compete in all three UCI Track Cycling World Cup events to gain valuable experience and improve his chances of qualifying for the World Championships. After competing at the Pan American Championships, he travelled to Dubai en route to Australia for the opening World Cup when conflict in the Middle East resulted in widespread flight cancellations.

"I landed in Dubai, and one or two days later the conflict started," he recalled. "The flights got cancelled, and it was pretty sad because I knew that wasn't going to happen."

Looking back, however, Walters believes the disappointment may have proved beneficial.

He eventually competed in the remaining World Cups in Hong Kong and Malaysia, but by the conclusion of the Malaysian event he had exhausted his finances.

"By the end of Malaysia, I had run out of money. I had maxed out a credit card," he revealed. "If I had gone to Australia as well, I probably wouldn't have had enough money to compete in the other two World Cups, and I needed those races to qualify for the World Championships."

Walters described the experience as an example of what initially appeared to be a setback ultimately working in his favour.

"Sometimes what looks like a curse turns into a blessing," he said.

IOC and ICC accept CWI’s proposal for regional qualifier

 

by Keith Joseph – CANOC, President

The doors to LA28 have just been swung open for individual Cricket West Indies countries to qualify for the 34th edition of the Summer Olympics, scheduled for Los Angeles, California, USA, July 14 - 30, 2028.

The International Olympic Committee has released the qualification system for cricket teams for LA2028. The Caribbean option rests with the following regulations as per the ‘Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament (FO GQT)’, which states:

‘The following teams will qualify for the Final Olympic Global Qualification Tournament (FOGQT):

• The next eight highest -ranked eligible teams not yet qualified, based on the ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings;

If the West Indies is ranked among the eight highest -ranked teams not yet qualified, the ICC shall organise a West Indies Nations Regional Tournament to determine which NOC will represent the region at the Final Global Olympic Qualification Tournament.

 

‘The West Indies, as a composite ICC member representing multiple Caribbean nations and not recognised as an IOC NOC, is ineligible to participate in the Olympic Games or to obtain a quota place. It comprises the following NOCs: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands,

Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands, which do not compete individually in ICC events.’

In April/May 2025, Cricket West Indies (CWI) wrote to the International Cricket Council (ICC) offering options for consideration and has continued to lobby to ensure the inclusion of its member countries in the process.

Since the submission, CWI has been anxious to receive news from the ICC about its own acceptance and that of the IOC. In the meantime, CWI and CANOC have been engaged in a joint effort at ensuring that all members of CWI seek individual membership of their respective National Olympic Committees (NOC).

This has since been achieved, and has smoothed the path to the significant milestone that has been announced by the IOC, the ICC and which CWI and all of CANOC are celebrating.

We have all been aware that during the period of the West Indies Federation, the West Indies Olympic Association was formed on 29 July 1958 and recognised by the IOC in the same year.

The members were  Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands. 

The Association had athletes participate in the Pan American Games in Chicago, Illinois in 1959 and a year later, at the Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. With the onset of Independence across the English-speaking Caribbean, the Association was dissolved and each independent nation then successfully applied for and gained membership of the IOC. The IOC Olympic Charter only recognises individual NOCs as having the legitimate right to send representative teams to the quadrennial Olympics.

CANOC extends sincere congratulations to CWI and to all our NOCs with national Cricket Associations that are now eligible to contest for a place in the sport’s return to the Summer Olympics in 2028.