CANOC chief warns Caribbean sport risks being left behind

by Michael Bascombe

KINGSTOWN, Oct. 25, 2026 - Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees President Keith Joseph has called for a regional reassessment of the Olympic system, warning that Caribbean sport could be left behind as international governing bodies change their operating models.

Joseph, speaking on Saturday’s TalkSports programme with Michael Bascombe, questioned whether the region’s national federations and Olympic committees were adequately preparing for changes in international sport.

“Personally, I believe that the Olympic model needs change,” Joseph said. “I think it has exhausted its usefulness.”

He said Caribbean Olympic committees should be developing research-based proposals to present to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), where he believes the region is underrepresented.

“What are our Olympic committees doing in order to bring to the table of the International Olympic Committee, where we are already underrepresented, to change the model that we are using?” Joseph asked.

The CANOC president cited FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s public approach to proposed changes in football as an indication of the broader discussions taking place within international federations.

Joseph said Caribbean administrators must continuously examine the region’s role within that changing environment instead of waiting for reforms to be determined by more influential sporting blocs.

“If we don’t do it now as a Caribbean grouping, we will get left behind in much the same way that our governments have gotten left behind in terms of international development strategies and their application to the benefit of our peoples,” he said.

Joseph’s comments came days after he was re-elected to lead CANOC for the 2026–2030 term at the organisation’s 24th General Assembly in Curaçao.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines administrator heads a seven-member executive committee whose stated priorities include regional cooperation, governance, and expanded opportunities for Caribbean athletes and sporting organisations.

SLOC President calls for openness and accountability in sports administration

by Michael Bascombe

CASTRIES, ST LUCIA, May 26, 2026 – Alfred Emmanuel says the decision by the St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc. to publicly release audited financial statements was driven by a desire to promote transparency and dispel misconceptions surrounding the use of Olympic funding.

Speaking during Saturday’s edition of the TalkSports programme, Emmanuel said sports organisations must be prepared to openly account for how funds are distributed and utilised, particularly at a time when governance and accountability continue to face growing scrutiny across the Caribbean sporting landscape.

“Well, I cannot speak for others,” Emmanuel said when asked why few National Olympic Committees in the region publicly release audited financial statements.

“All I can say is that it’s a mandate, I believe, of the IOC and the funding agencies of NOCs for them to have annual audited financial statements.”

The veteran sports administrator noted, however, that while the preparation of audited accounts may be required, making those statements publicly available is often left to the discretion of individual organisations.

“The reason for not making it public, I cannot speak for that,” he added.

Emmanuel explained that shortly after becoming President of the SLOC, he decided the organisation should adopt a more open approach to financial reporting in order to build confidence among stakeholders and eliminate speculation regarding the management of Olympic funds.

“My reason for making it public since I’ve become President of the St Lucia Olympic Committee is to dispel any notion,” he stated.

“There are lots of misconceptions, lots of myths as to what the money is being used for, who is enjoying it for themselves and who is enjoying it for themselves and the family.”

His comments reflect wider concerns that have periodically surfaced across regional sport regarding transparency, governance standards, and the management of funding provided by the International Olympic Committee, Olympic Solidarity programmes, governments, and private sector partners.

Emmanuel believes public disclosure helps reinforce accountability and demonstrates that funds are being distributed appropriately among member federations and sporting programmes.

“So we need to put it in the public domain so they can see for a fact what we are doing with the monies,” he explained.

“Our annual reports will clearly identify the various members, the quantum they have received and whatnot.”

The SLOC President described the organisation as “an open book” and said transparency should never be viewed as a threat by sporting bodies operating in the public interest.

“We have absolutely nothing to hide,” Emmanuel declared. “And as such, we have put out our finances for public scrutiny.”

Several sporting organisations across the region have faced criticism over governance disputes, financial management concerns, and limited public reporting, prompting increasing demands for reforms and higher standards of accountability.

Grenada among seven nations endorsed by World Boxing

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, April 30, 2026 - Grenada has taken a significant step onto the international boxing stage after the Boxing Association of Grenada Inc. was officially endorsed for membership by World Boxing.

The announcement came as World Boxing’s Executive Board approved seven new National Federations. The other newly endorsed members include Antigua and Barbuda, Cameroon, Curaçao, Gabon, South Africa, and Vanuatu.

With this approval, the Boxing Association of Grenada is now eligible to participate in World Boxing-sanctioned events.

The move also signals that Grenada has met strict international standards, including governance transparency, anti-doping compliance aligned with global protocols, and the establishment of fair dispute resolution systems.

Vice President of the Boxing Association of Grenada Inc., Dr Deborah-Ann Stephens-John, welcomed the endorsement as a defining moment for the sport locally.

“This is a proud and historic achievement for Grenadian boxing. It reflects the hard work, structure and accountability that we have been building over the past few years,” Stephens-John said.

“Our boxers now have a clear and credible pathway to international competition, and this will serve as a major boost to the development of boxing across the island.”

She also pointed to the immediate opportunities now available to local boxers.

“Grenada has boxers who can participate in the Commonwealth Games. We have one based in England and at least three here at home who are actively preparing for that level.”

Emphasising the broader vision, Stephens-John stressed that success will be measured beyond podium finishes.

“It’s not only about winning; it’s about the development of the athlete, building experience, discipline, and long-term growth within the sport.”

She revealed that local activity is already being ramped up to support that development.

“We are preparing locally for an event in Carriacou in July and another on the mainland at the end of August. These competitions are important as we continue to build the sport from the ground up.”

This latest development follows a previous attempt by Grenada to secure membership in World Boxing. Last year, the Grenada Olympic Committee (GOC) raised concerns that led to the withdrawal of the application, citing that the Boxing Association of Grenada Inc. was not formally recognised by the national Olympic body at the time.

In response, the Boxing Association of Grenada Inc. undertook corrective measures, submitting the required documentation, including a comprehensive report outlining its annual activities and a structured programme for the development of boxing on the island.

The Association has been legally registered as the governing body for boxing in Grenada since 2022, strengthening its case for international recognition and ultimately paving the way for this successful endorsement.

Dr Stephens-John acknowledged the journey to this point.

“This was not an overnight success. We had to regroup, strengthen our documentation, and demonstrate clearly that boxing in Grenada has both structure and vision. I commend the entire team for staying the course.”

One of the immediate benefits of this endorsement is eligibility for participation in the boxing competition at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which will be conducted under World Boxing’s rules.

“The opportunity for our boxers to compete at the Commonwealth Games is invaluable,” Stephens-John noted. “It gives them exposure, experience, and belief that they belong on the international stage.”

Grenada joins World Boxing as an “Endorsed Member,” a designation that allows competition participation but does not yet grant voting rights at the organisation’s Congress. Advancement to “Full Member” status will be determined at the next World Boxing Congress, scheduled for November 20, 2026, in Panama.

Should Grenada secure full membership, it would gain voting privileges and a stronger voice in shaping the future of international boxing governance.

World Boxing was established by a coalition of National Federations worldwide in response to the International Boxing Association's derecognition. The move followed persistent concerns about Olympic-style boxing’s international governance, in which longstanding issues related to sporting integrity, transparency, administration, and financial management had put the sport’s Olympic future in jeopardy.

Those concerns were repeatedly raised by the International Olympic Committee, ultimately leading to the IBA’s removal from Olympic recognition and creating the need for a new, credible global governing structure.

While the IBA, under the leadership of Umar Kremlev, continues to stage its own world championships and professional, high-prize competitions, it remains largely isolated from Olympic involvement due to the governance and integrity issues that prompted its derecognition.

With the addition of the seven new federations, World Boxing’s membership has now expanded to 175 National Federations worldwide, reflecting the organisation’s rapid growth since its launch in 2023. The body has already made significant strides, including securing provisional recognition from the IOC in February 2025 as the governing federation for boxing within the Olympic Movement.