Athletes to benefit from new programme

A plan which was in place since 2017 has finally been fulfilled and that is the ability to offer elite, emerging and developing athletes a place where their medicals can be done as well as a full sports medicine assessment.

The launch of the programme, which is a collaboration between the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), the Barbados Sports Medicine Association (BSMA) and the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Community Empowerment, took place today at the BOA’s headquarters.

Speaking at the launch, president of the BSMA, Dr Carl Ward said that they will initially be catering for around 70 athletes. He said they are trying to offer more to the athletes but it will first start with an assessment clinic.

Ward said athletes will have a comprehensive medical yearly, as well as the medical that they would be required to have before travelling with a team on national duty.

Ward revealed that they will also have a referral system in place to deal with any problems that they may find.

One of the areas which they wish to address is the number of athletes who have been quitting their respective sports due to injuries that have gone untreated.

Another worrying trend that it hopes will be addressed is that of athletes who do not seek out trained professionals due to either financial reasons or lack of knowledge as to where they can find assistance.

Ward hopes that this will be the start of helping to develop and emerging athletes to forge a pathway to the elite level regardless of injury.

Minister of Sport, Charles Griffith said that he also wanted some satellite places for the programme so that those who do not have transportation can still benefit from the programme.

However, Ward pointed out that a lack of human resources was the biggest problem with expanding the programme at the moment which is why they were catering for the current numbers.

Griffith voiced his concern that many athletes do not understand the impact that nutrition has on their careers.

He said a lot will now depend on coaches paying attention to and being aware of what is happening in terms of injuries. He also called for a mandate that all national federations be made to educate their coaches as to what is programs are in place.

Griffith also offered some space at the Wildey Gymnasium to help expand their program.

All three entities BMSA, BOA and the Ministry of Sport hope to collaborate in the future with the University of the West Indies.

(CG)