CANOC chief questions Caribbean influence in world sport

by Michael Bascombe

KINGSTOWN, Oct. 25, 2026 - Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) President Keith Joseph has criticised Caribbean sports organisations for failing to convert representation within international federations into meaningful regional influence.

Asked on Saturday’s TalkSports programme with Michael Bascombe whether regional organisations were adapting quickly enough to the increasingly complex demands of international sport, Joseph replied: “No, not by a long shot.”

“We are afraid to talk because perhaps we are afraid to analyse,” he said. “We get the analysis more from our sports journalists, who are criticised for being analytical, than they deserve.”

Joseph argued that some national federations judged their international relationships mainly by the funding, equipment, or other assistance they secured rather than by their contribution to policy and decision-making.

He said Caribbean delegates attending international meetings should study agendas in advance, assess the implications for their countries, and develop shared regional responses.

“What are our Caribbean members of FIFA doing?” Joseph asked. “Are they just waiting for CONCACAF to take a lead for them, or are they themselves individually studying what this means for all of us?”

He said the region should be prepared to present collective proposals reflecting Caribbean needs instead of responding after decisions had already been shaped by larger and more influential blocs.

Joseph also questioned the Caribbean’s influence within the Olympic system. Although National Olympic Committees form a central part of the Olympic Movement, voting at IOC Sessions is conducted by individual IOC members rather than by each recognised national committee.

He said securing a Caribbean representative on an international executive should be treated as the beginning of the work, rather than the final achievement.

“Having one representative on the executive is not an impact,” Joseph said. “It may be that we gain recognition finally, but what do we do with that recognition?”

He called for regional representatives to report more consistently to Caribbean administrators, explain developments at international meetings, and seek guidance before positions are taken.

Joseph said CANOC’s growing engagement with African and Asian Olympic bodies was intended to build cooperation around shared history, expertise, and development needs.

Presidents of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and the Olympic Council of Asia attended CANOC’s recent General Assembly in Curaçao. The organisations have identified coach exchanges, joint training, and shared technical experience as possible areas of cooperation.

Joseph said the Caribbean’s African, Indian, and Chinese heritage should provide a basis for stronger sporting and institutional ties.

“We may be able to understand that we have more in common than differentiates us,” he said.

Joseph was re-elected on October 18 to lead CANOC for the 2026–2030 term. He did not identify individual Caribbean federations or Olympic committees in his criticism.

“We’re not doing enough of that by any stretch of the imagination,” he said.