St. Kitts – Nevis To Receive Assistance From Australia In Sports Development

Patti Mason and Sandy Daley – University of Canberra

Basseterre, St. Kitts _ Nevis
December 01, 2011 (SKNIS)

The overall development plan for sports in St. Kitts and Nevis and the way forward were reviewed by local sporting administrators and a visiting team from the University of Canberra in Australia.

Sandy Daley and Patti Denham-Mason of the University’s National Institute of Sports Studies spent November 28 and 29 meeting with local stakeholders to discuss strategic planning, talent identification, event management, sponsorship and media relations. The duo also discussed the Federal Sports Policy which was developed in 1996.

“It’s an excellent policy because it does actually draw into it areas from education, planning and tourism which is really important,” Ms. Daley told SKNIS, adding that most policies are developed in isolation and do not factor in key elements such as collaborations with agencies in other sectors.

Ms. Daley explained that issues in the document remain “very current” and described the meeting with stakeholders on the policy as “productive.”

“Everybody is still passionate about the content that is in it (the policy) because it involves the schools and developing a physical education curriculum and recognizes the value of trained physical education teachers, right through to coach development, pathways for elite athletes, facility development, programmes for people that normally participate in physical activity. Everything was covered,” she stressed.

Ms. Denham-Mason noted that they were impressed with the number and range of sporting facilities on island. She disclosed that elements in the policy however need to be upgraded to reflect health concerns such as changing netball courts from concrete to a more suitable surface that would reduce the potential for damage to legs and knees.

The updated suggestions will be included in the document by Ms. Daley and will be submitted to the local Government to consider and implement.

Ms. Daley and Ms. Denham-Mason’s visit to St. Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean countries was facilitated by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).