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Contact:
Julita Peter
Monday, February 21, 2005 - Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Mario
Michel has called on sports administrators to aim for high standards of
programme planning, administration and organization.
Minister Michel made those comments at the Annual Sports Awards Ceremony last
Saturday evening, at which St. Lucia’s woman cricketer on the West Indies
Women’s Cricket Team, Nadine George was announced the island’s 2004 Sportswoman
of the Year, while Darren Sammy, the first St. Lucian to make it on the West
Indies Cricket Team was 2004 Sportsman of the Year.
The Junior Sportsman for 2004 was awarded to Davin Edward, a student of the
Entrepot Secondary School, while Tressa Ann Charles won the Sportswoman title.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Minister Michel said, “While sports
administrators have contributed significantly to the island’s sporting success,
the lack of success in some disciplines can be attributed to insufficient
attention being paid to sound administrative practices”.
He said that good administrative practices were important in attracting private
sector sponsorship for sports, given that businesses wanted to see positive
public impact generated by value for money or effective marketing. Sports
administrators, the Minister added, must undergo the necessary training and
orientation to position them to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities.
“To the administrators of the various spotting organizations whether operating
at the national and district level, you too, must keep faith in our sportsmen
and sportswomen, and must renew your commitment to their cause. It is only a
strong commitment to the sport that can motivate you to give of your best in
what can be a priceless task as serving as a sports administrator in St. Lucia”,
the Minister said.
The Youth and Sports Minister also called on corporate sponsors of sports to
renew their commitment to supporting sports in St. Lucia: “To those business
entities, which have not been supporting our sportsmen and sportswomen, who have
diverted their resources away from sports, I want to appeal to you to get back
on board with your support for sports in St. Lucia”.
“To the sportsmen and sportswomen of St. Lucia, both established and emerging, I
want to first congratulate you on your efforts and achievements in 2004, and to
urge you to give off you best in 2005 and beyond. Remember alot of time, energy,
material and resources have been invested in preparing you for your
participation in your sport and a lot is expected from you in return”, he said.
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