Clarifying the Role and Impact of TalkSports

by Michael Bascombe

There appears to be a need to bring some clarity to the role and intent of our weekly sports programme, TalkSports.

As a matter of transparency, neither the host nor the co-host is a practising media professional. The host is a former sports journalist, while the co-host is a former track athlete. However, what we bring to the table is experience, perspective, and a passion for the development of sport in Grenada and the wider Caribbean.

When TalkSports was launched a few years ago, it was simply to fill a void, creating a space for meaningful discussion, analysis, and engagement in sports. Today, more than 600 live episodes later, the programme has evolved into a respected regional platform, offering Caribbean-focused commentary and hosting a wide cross-section of voices, including Prime Ministers, Ministers of Sport, administrators, coaches, and elite athletes.

Importantly, TalkSports has never sought to dictate narratives but rather to stimulate conversation. We are encouraged when discussions on the programme lead to deeper national dialogue, and, in some cases, tangible action. The renewed attention to the proposed synthetic track in St Andrew is one such example. While we do not claim sole responsibility, we are proud to have consistently advocated for this development, particularly following the historic win for the St Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School (SAASS) at the Inter-Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships.

Similarly, our recent focus on track and field clubs, featuring programmes with Spreenters Athletics Club, Altitude Track Academy, and Top Flight Athletics, was part of a planned editorial direction to highlight grassroots development. Our interview with Mr Gary James was arranged well in advance and was intended to showcase his club’s work, not to serve as a post-mortem on the CARIFTA Games, despite the involvement of his athletes at that level.

This brings us to recent commentary referencing TalkSports. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but it must also be grounded in context and understanding.

In that regard, it is worth noting that St Patrick remains the only parish in Grenada without a recognised track and field club. Interestingly, two meets organised by the Grenada Athletics Association (GAA) are named in honour of stalwarts from that very parish. This reality presents not just a talking point, but an opportunity.

Rather than critique from a distance, I challenge those with influence, particularly voices from St Patrick, to engage their communities, collaborate with the Parish Sports Council, and work alongside the chairman of the Grenada Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (GAPSS), who is also from St Patrick, to establish and strengthen sporting structures, especially in track and field.

TalkSports stands ready to be part of that solution. In fact, I extend an open invitation to the commentator in question to join us on the programme for a constructive discussion on sports development in St Patrick, perhaps beginning with basketball, an area in which he has previously been involved.

At the end of the day, TalkSports is not about personalities or agendas. It is about sport, development, and the collective advancement of our athletes and communities.

InterCol at a Crossroads: Fourteen Years Later, the Call for Reform Remains

by Michael Bascombe

Fourteen years ago, I penned a commentary titled “Urgent Overhaul of InterCol Champs Needed.” At the time, it was a call to action, one rooted in the belief that Grenada’s premier secondary schools’ athletics championships had outgrown their structure and required a more strategic approach.

Today, in 2026, that call still echoes.

To be fair, the Inter-Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships, known as InterCol, has evolved tremendously. What was once a school-based competition has now become a national spectacle, arguably second only to Spicemas in terms of public interest, participation, and cultural significance. The energy at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium each year is evidence of its power, packed stands, school colours, and a level of competition that continues to inspire.

The reality is that InterCol has outgrown its traditional framework. While the Grenada Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (GAPSS) has done commendable work in organising the championships over the years, the scale and impact of the event now demand a more permanent and professionalised management structure.

This is not about removing GAPSS from the process, far from it. Instead, it is about strengthening the foundation through a dedicated body or secretariat that works year-round, ensuring continuity, planning, and execution at the highest level. If we can establish and maintain a structured entity to manage Spicemas, then we can do the same for one of the nation’s most important sporting events.

Such a structure should involve key stakeholders, including the Ministries of Education and Sports, working collaboratively with GAPSS. This would allow for a more coordinated approach, not just to InterCol, but to the broader development of secondary school sports across Grenada.

Because InterCol is no longer just an event. It is a product. And like any product, it requires strategic planning, branding, marketing, and investment.

Several areas require urgent attention, including Marketing and Promotion; Sponsorship and Commercialisation; Broadcast and Production; Athlete Development; Event Management and Logistics; and the Expansion of School Sports.

InterCol deserves a year-round promotional strategy. The stories of the athletes, the rivalries between schools, and the journey to the championships should be told consistently across traditional and digital media. This is how you build anticipation and deepen national engagement.

Corporate Grenada must be given a clearer, more structured opportunity to invest. With proper packaging, InterCol can attract significant sponsorship, easing the financial burden on schools and organisers while enhancing the overall quality of the event.

The championships have already shown their potential as a broadcast product. However, there is a need for standardised, high-quality production, complete with graphics, athlete profiles, real-time results, and expert commentary to match regional and international standards. This is important, especially with Grenada positioning itself as a host of major events such as the CARIFTA Games.

InterCol should be integrated into a clear national development pathway. It must not be viewed as the final destination, but rather as a stepping stone to higher levels, CARIFTA Games, collegiate athletics, and beyond.

From scheduling to athlete management, medical services to crowd control, there must be a professionalised approach that reduces inefficiencies and enhances the experience for athletes and spectators alike.

Perhaps most importantly, this proposed structure could oversee not only athletics but a wider programme of secondary school sports. Basketball, football, cricket, swimming and volleyball could all benefit from the same level of organisation and visibility, creating a true culture of school-based sport development.

InterCol has reached a point where passion alone is no longer enough. It now requires policy, planning, and professionalism.

Fourteen years later, the conversation must move from suggestion to implementation.

Grenada has the talent and enthusiasm. What is needed now is the structure to match.

Previous commentary: https://mikebas.blogspot.com/2012/03/urgent-overhaul-of-intercol-champs.html