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.

Sports set to face biggest test

by Keith Joseph

Over the past several months, the immigration policies of the United States have changed significantly, to the extent that those seeking visas from almost any country may be more concerned than ever before in history about their chances of being successful.

Perhaps, more than anything else, is the reality that it is almost impossible to predict the nature of policy changes, as well as what can give cause for the changes, and uncertainty as to when such changes may be announced and enforced.

At the time of writing this piece, the next edition of the quadrennial FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin in Mexico City, Mexico, in 48 days, with host Mexico taking on South Africa. Matches are scheduled for Canada and the USA in addition to Mexico.

FIFA remains tentative on precisely what, if any, guarantees it is able to give to any of the participating teams. Technical and administrative officials and supporters. At the same time, several citizens from several countries are under total travel bans, while others are under partial bans. Additionally, many countries have also been informed that their citizens are now subject to a bond of $15,000USD when making their applications for visas.

At this point, there remains much uncertainty in respect of whether players of teams that have qualified for the World Cup Finals would be negatively affected and what this would mean for the affected teams. Across FIFA’s membership, there is much to worry about in. the short time left before the first ball kicks off.

Although two years away, the XXXIV edition of the Olympic Games, due to commence on 17 July 2028, is very much under a cloud, much as is the case currently with the FIFA World Cup of 2026. Whilst many of the 205 National Olympic Committees ideally relish Los Angeles’ game-changing traditions when hosting the Summer Olympics, the International Olympic Committee, much like FIFA, must be looking at all possible scenarios in respect of the applicable visa requirements as the Games draw ever nearer.

The fact that the IOC has a recently elected new and first woman President who is still ‘finding her feet and hopeful of establishing her own legacy in the global Olympic Movement, does not make it any easier for all those nations whose athletes are in preparation for the world’s biggest sporting spectacle.
 
At this juncture in world history, while both the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games have had their fair number of critical challenges, the likes of what they are currently facing has never featured in the manner in which they find themselves today. Indeed, the world has never faced a near-crippling situation in respect of global travel as is the case today.

One clearly understands the rapidly changing geo-politics of the contemporary, which has many nations and their economies at their mercy. But the uncertainty that exists and for the immediate future, international sport will face its toughest test. This is not to say that we cannot overcome the challenges as has been the case throughout history. The current situation, however, has the potential to push two of the world’s most lucrative and exciting sporting spectacles to bankruptcy, whilst significantly upturning them and their own perceived places in global dynamics.

One can only hope that cool heads prevail and that all nations that so readily sign on to the Olympic Truce and extol the powerful virtues of sport on humanity, would come together is a major initiative that can literally allow sport perhaps its best chance to ‘change the world’. The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) is counting on this.

Keith Joseph is the President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) 

Keith Joseph Proposes Regional University Sports System for the Caribbean

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, October 20, 2025 - President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), Keith Joseph, has proposed the creation of a regional university sports system — a Caribbean equivalent of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) — to strengthen athlete development and reduce reliance on overseas scholarships.

Speaking on the weekly TalkSports programme on Saturday, Joseph said that the region already has the institutions, talent, and coaching capacity to support such a system but needs stronger coordination among universities, governments, and the private sector to make it work.

“UWI (University of the West Indies) has its own games,” Joseph explained. “But they have not looked at incorporating other institutions like UTech or GC Foster in Jamaica, or the University of Guyana. We need to think regionally, not just campus by campus.”

Joseph warned that the Caribbean’s dependence on U.S. athletic scholarships could become risky given the shifting geopolitical landscape. He suggested that the region must begin preparing for potential restrictions on access to international sports scholarships.

“Given the kind of geopolitics we are seeing now coming out of the U.S., it may not be far-fetched to think that at some point we may face blockages in access to scholarships,” he said. “So, why not build our own system here in the Caribbean?”

He pointed to examples of Caribbean athletes who found early success through regional cooperation and training in Jamaica’s secondary school system, including Zharnel Hughes of Anguilla and Handal Roban of St Vincent and the Grenadines. However, recent restrictions imposed by Jamaica’s Inter-Secondary School Sports Association (ISSA) have limited the number of foreign students eligible to compete in national school championships — a move Joseph cautioned could unintentionally hinder regional unity.

“I don’t think Jamaica intends to be a spoiler,” he said. “But regulations like that could end up discouraging the same Caribbean integration that sport has helped to build. Jamaica came out of the federation with a black eye in 1962 — I don’t think they want to repeat that perception.”

Joseph’s vision calls for regional universities — including the University of the West Indies (UWI), the University of Guyana, the University of Technology (UTech), and GC Foster College — to offer a set number of sports scholarships per year for Caribbean athletes. This, he said, could create a sustainable and competitive environment similar to the NCAA, while keeping athletes closer to home.

“If we can get the universities in the region to agree to provide a certain number of sports scholarships per year, we can begin the equivalent of a Caribbean NCAA,” Joseph said. “Our athletes wouldn’t have to go overseas — they could stay home, benefit from regional coaching, and still reach world-class levels.”

As part of CANOC’s broader mission, Joseph revealed that the organisation has commissioned a study through the UWI Faculty of Sport to examine the role of the private sector in Caribbean sport development. The study aims to assess the level of investment and explore new models of public-private partnership.

“We’ve asked UWI to do an analysis of the role of the private sector in sport development,” Joseph said. “Are they contributing enough? If not, why not? We rely heavily on the public sector, but we need to better understand how to balance that through effective partnerships.”

Joseph emphasised that the findings should not only inform governments but also engage the wider Caribbean public.

“The people of the Caribbean need to have an input in sport as a vehicle for national and regional development,” he said. “This is about building a shared future through sport.”

Keith Joseph Warns Against Rising Militarisation in the Caribbean

NEW YORK, October 19, 2025 - President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), Keith Joseph, has expressed deep concern about the increasing militarisation of the Caribbean, warning that it threatens the region’s long-held aspiration to remain a zone of peace and undermines the social environment in which athletes live and compete.

Speaking on the weekly TalkSports programme on Saturday, Joseph said that sport cannot thrive in societies overshadowed by fear, instability, or aggression. He called on regional leaders and sporting bodies to champion peace and human rights, emphasising that athletes and sports administrators have a duty to advocate for a safe and healthy environment.

“For donkey years, we’ve been talking about the Caribbean as a zone of peace,” Joseph said. “Right now, it’s increasingly less so — and that is something we need to advocate for. Our athletes live in this environment, and they need a healthy and safe space to grow.”

He stressed that the concept of ‘safe sport’ goes far beyond doping control and discrimination policies. It also includes ensuring that athletes live in secure, just, and inclusive societies.

“Safe sport is not only freedom from drugs or avoiding discrimination,” Joseph explained. “It’s about being part of a society where athletes can live, train, and compete in safety and dignity.”

Joseph said that athletes are more than competitors — they are leaders and role models who should use their voices to promote peace, justice, and social responsibility.

“Our sportspeople are leaders,” he said. “They need to be exemplary in their behaviour and conduct, but also in speaking out against wrong. That’s why we talk about human rights and the well-being of our peoples. It’s our right as Caribbean citizens, and we should not be afraid to speak about it.”

He acknowledged that taking a stand on social issues often comes with personal risk, citing historical examples such as Muhammad Ali, whose activism transcended sport.

“Yes, when you speak out, there may be consequences — and we saw that with Muhammad Ali and others,” Joseph noted. “But at the end of the day, you must satisfy yourself that you have a responsibility to the people around you, to your community, and to the schools and environments that shaped you.”

Joseph concluded by urging athletes, administrators, and the wider society to remain engaged in protecting the moral and social integrity of the Caribbean.

“We cannot alienate ourselves from our communities or societies,” he said. “We must remain deep within them — loving them, caring for them, and speaking out against any wrong that comes against them.”

CANOC Confirms Caribbean’s Commitment to Both Commonwealth and CAC Games Despite Scheduling Clash

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, October 19, 2025 - President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), Keith Joseph, has confirmed that Caribbean nations remain committed to participating in both the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, despite an unprecedented scheduling conflict that places both events on overlapping dates.

Speaking on the weekly TalkSports programme on Saturday, Joseph described the situation as “unfortunate” but said regional federations and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are working to ensure that athletes can still represent their countries at both events.

“I think we’re on for both the Commonwealth Games and the CAC Games,” Joseph said. “It’s an unfortunate situation that they’re taking place around the same time, but we are committed to being at both.”

The scheduling clash arose after Victoria, Australia, withdrew as host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, leaving Commonwealth Sport with a narrow window to secure a replacement. Glasgow, which last hosted the Games in 2014, stepped in with a shorter, scaled-down version of the event.

“Glasgow said, ‘We can do the Games for you in the short time you have — but here are the conditions,’” Joseph explained. “It will be no longer than ten days, involve no more than ten sports, and these are the precise dates we can use. It’s not changing.”

Meanwhile, the CAC Games, organised by Centro Caribe Sports (formerly CACSO), had already set its competition dates years in advance. The 2026 edition also holds special historical significance, marking the 100th anniversary of the Games — the oldest multi-sport event in the world after the Olympics.

“CAC said, ‘We agreed on our dates years ago, and this is our centenary celebration — we can’t change,’” Joseph said. “So both organisations are holding firm, which makes it a difficult but manageable situation.”

To minimise the impact on athletes, adjustments are being made across several disciplines — particularly in athletics, where schedules are being aligned to allow top competitors to participate in both events.

“Over the last several months, they’ve been making minor adjustments to give the best athletes the opportunity to compete in both,” Joseph said. “Some of that has worked, but it’s still very uncomfortable.”

Despite the logistical challenges, Joseph stressed that Caribbean participation in both Games is important.

“We have a responsibility to be at the CAC Games because the Caribbean and Central America make up the majority of the membership,” he said. “And since it’s the oldest multi-sport Games after the Olympics, we can’t turn our backs on that.”

At the same time, Joseph acknowledged that the Commonwealth Games offer higher-level competition and greater exposure for elite athletes seeking international ranking points and professional opportunities.

“We understand why some elite athletes may say, ‘That’s where I want to be,’” he noted. “The Commonwealth Games give them higher-ranking points and the chance to stay on in Europe for money meets. That’s part of their career planning.”

He added that the coming months will require close collaboration between National Olympic Committees, national federations, and athletes to balance priorities and resources effectively.

“It will take some doing,” Joseph admitted. “But I think we’ll find a way. We’ll be attending both Games.”

Keith Joseph Calls for Regional Approach to Sport Development in the Caribbean

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, October 18, 2025 - President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), Keith Joseph, has renewed his call for a united, region-wide approach to sport development, arguing that Caribbean nations must stop working in isolation if they are to realise sport’s full social and economic potential.

Speaking on the weekly TalkSports programme on Saturday, Joseph reflected on some of the outcomes of CANOC’s Workshop and General Assembly being held in Georgetown, Guyana, where leaders discussed strategies to strengthen cooperation among National Olympic Committees (NOCs), Commonwealth Games Associations, and governments.

“That is why our theme this year is Authentic Caribbean,” Joseph said. “We believe it’s critical that we stop functioning independently and instead embrace a collective regional approach to sport development.”

Joseph commended the remarks made by Guyana’s Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson, who urged delegates to pursue shared solutions rather than isolated national initiatives.

“He said Guyana is building a number of facilities, yes, but we want this for the region,” Joseph explained. “That appeal resonated with every NOC and Commonwealth Games Association present. Everyone left with the message that we must think and act as one Caribbean when it comes to sport.”

Among the key topics discussed at the CANOC meetings was the idea of a Caribbean-African alliance, a concept Joseph has championed for years. With CARICOM deepening diplomatic and trade relations with Africa, he believes sport should be part of that agenda, along with stronger links to India, whose people, along with Africans, constitute much of the region’s population.

“When COVID came, the first vaccines we received were from South Africa and India,” he noted. “Those two regions represent the majority of our population base. Why not use sport to forge a triangular alliance between the Caribbean, Africa, and India? It could even help reduce ethnic tensions in places like Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana that have persisted for decades.”

Joseph said Caribbean societies must also move away from the outdated belief that a career in sport is less valuable than one in traditional academic fields.

“We often believe that if you get involved in sport, something is wrong with you — that you should have become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer,” he said. “But we need those professionals and we need people who understand sport’s role in nation-building.”

To that end, Joseph revealed ongoing discussions between CANOC, the University of the West Indies, and Grenada to establish a comprehensive high-performance training centre for the Caribbean. The facility would integrate athletics and sports science with academic, environmental, and agricultural programmes.

“We are exploring the possibility of creating a regional high-performance centre in Grenada — one that also has a strong academic base in an eco-tourism and agricultural environment,” he said. “This could redefine how we position sport — not as recreation, but as a critical vehicle for national and regional development.”

Joseph concluded that true progress in Caribbean sport requires both vision and unity.

“We have the talent, we have the passion, and we have the cultural foundation,” he said. “What we now need is a shared purpose — to build the Authentic Caribbean through sport.”

Keith Joseph Urges Caribbean Leaders to Recognise Sport as a Pillar of Regional Development

by Michael Bascombe

NEW YORK, October 18, 2025 - The President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), Keith Joseph, has called on regional governments to place sport at the centre of their national development agendas, arguing that it remains an underutilised tool for unity, productivity, and economic growth across the Caribbean.

Speaking on the weekly TalkSports programme on Saturday, Joseph expressed disappointment that sport continues to be treated as an afterthought by many Caribbean leaders, despite its proven capacity to unite people and enhance the region’s image on the global stage. He pointed to the second CARICOM–Africa Summit, noting that sport was notably absent from the agenda.

“I was very disappointed that in the second CARICOM summit with Africa, sport was not on the agenda at all,” Joseph said. “It seems some of our leaders are still caught up in the nostalgia of what cricket once meant for us. While cricket played a huge role in shaping our identity, athletics has long taken over that mantle in uniting the region.”

Joseph highlighted that track and field has, for decades, captured the imagination of Caribbean people more broadly than any other sport. He noted that moments such as Usain Bolt’s Olympic victories transcended national boundaries and showcased the Caribbean’s potential for global influence.

“When Bolt was running, there was no crime in Jamaica — people were too busy wanting to see him destroy the international community,” Joseph said. “Brand Bolt became bigger than Brand Jamaica, but he also became the embodiment of Jamaica. Our politicians have not yet understood the value of sport to our global image.”

The CANOC President emphasised that, unlike cricket, which has a limited global reach, athletics and the Olympic movement provide exposure to more than 200 member countries, offering far greater opportunities for the Caribbean to showcase its talent and culture internationally.

Joseph believes that while several regional leaders — including President Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados — have demonstrated strong support for sport, others have yet to embrace its broader social and economic potential.

“When we met President Ali earlier this year, he spoke passionately about sport development and outlined the facilities being constructed in Guyana,” Joseph said. “Prime Minister Mottley has also expressed her support for our initiatives. These are examples of leadership that understands sport as a development tool.”

However, Joseph lamented that most regional governments still fail to integrate sport into broader social and economic policy frameworks.

“We talk about sport tourism, but only when we’re hosting an event,” he said. “We haven’t built the political and economic infrastructure to support sport as a pillar of our economy. Sport is tied to health, productivity, and discipline — all vital for national development — yet we don’t seem to value those connections.”

He pointed out that in many Caribbean territories, the private sector, rather than government, leads sport tourism initiatives. The recent ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted in the region, demonstrated how major events can inject significant revenue into local economies. Still, Joseph said, the wider benefits are often overlooked.

“The T20 World Cup generated millions across host islands,” he explained. “But instead of discussing the economic success, people focused only on whether the team won or lost. We have to change that mindset.”

Joseph concluded by urging regional leaders to treat sport not as recreation, but as a strategic driver of unity and development. He recalled historian Douglas Hall’s reflection that the collapse of the West Indies Federation was due to a lack of people-centred engagement — a mistake he says should not be repeated with sport.

“Sport starts with the people,” Joseph said. “If we engage sport as a vehicle for bringing our peoples together, we will be far more successful. That is what CARICOM has yet to achieve — to bring our people together through sport.”

CANOC Appeals For Change In CARICOM Heads' Approach To Sport

Keith Joseph - CANOCs President

by Keith Joseph - President

Dear Colleagues and Friends 

The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) has taken the bold step in calling for a change in the approach to sport in the Caribbean by the Heads of Government of CARICOM member countries. 

At the level of CANOC, we understand and remain appreciative of the efforts of the Heads of Government of the region in respect of the concerns they have had for the fortunes of West Indies Cricket, the first sporting institution from this part of the world to engage itself in international sports competition. The physical infrastructure in every Caribbean country has been provided, for the most part, by the respective governments, and we are all very grateful for the support that the sport has received with the hosting of international and regional competitions that have delighted populations everywhere. 

As many cricket historians have placed on record, cricket once held the aspirations of the peoples of the Caribbean. The sport was a means of helping us showcase our talent on the field of play and prove ourselves capable of holding our own in head-to-head matches. Success on the field of play translated into Caribbean peoples, while under the yoke of colonialism, being able to walk tall, confident that we were earning respect and that our dignity was increasingly being acknowledged. 

But history has also shown that our peoples have come to display our remarkable talent in other sports, especially in track and field athletics with the sporting excellence of Jamaica’s Arthur Wint, Herb McKenley and the 4 x 400m relay gold medallists at the Summer Olympics of 1948 and1952 respectively. Today, the Caribbean is expected to perform well above their size and economic resources in athletics. Our footballers have shown their worth and continue to prove attractive to international professional teams around the world. 

It remains that in the face of our sporting successes, our CARICOM Heads have apparently got stuck at the level of cricket being seen and treated by them as the single most important sport that holds significance to the peoples of the Caribbean. Not even the world record breaking performances and sprinting dominance of the great Usain Bolt has allowed the region’s political leadership to turn their attention to the global impact of athletics on our international standing, as a result of sport. 

The point that CANOC wishes to drive home today is that with sport being one of the fastest growing industries, we must commit our region, as a collective, to the location of sport tourism as a viable pillar of our respective economies. The transformation of many of the region’s athletes into wealthy members of Caribbean society serves as an incredible incentive to successive generations of the region’s youths, eager to break the back of chronic unemployment, underemployment, gender inequality, youth despondency, vagrancy and incessantly spiralling crime and delinquency. 

In the face of rapidly global change and economic uncertainty, our Caribbean leaders must move to embracing sport in its multifaceted nature, well beyond the narrow confines of cricket. While remaining committed to the rich legacy of cricket, the reality of our successes in an increasing number of other sports must push us to an acknowledgement that we can benefit, economically, socially and otherwise, as a region, through the opportunities for building upon the solidarity and unity that sport engenders.

CANOC therefore appeals to our CARICOM leaders to facilitate a broad-based regional discourse on sport as a major pillar of regional development through unity. We must right the wrongs of our failure to build on the positives of the concept of a West Indies Federation to create a new Caribbean that takes its rightful place amongst the international community, looking after the common interests of our people.

Together or Nothing!