The Government of Barbados has a vision for sports and road tennis is a major sport in the scheme of things says acting assistant director of the National Sports Council Adrian Donovan.
He said that the common sentiments with regards to the Barbados delegation which had a showcase has been described as a tour of awesome magnitude that went beyond expectations.
The Barbados delegation to Dubai included experts in every aspect of the only indigenous sport in this country as they went on an 11 day tour that saw members of the team conducting coaching sessions on a daily basis. They also held discussions with participants and possible organizers on how the sport is structured, organized, played and scored.
Donovan in his senior capacity as a NSC official said that at the closing ceremony of the competition saw both male and female players receiving free trips to Barbados, the participants spoke glowing about road tennis. During the presentation a map of Barbados comprising 166 road tennis courts was given to Barbados Deputy Council General in Dubai Ann Mellows.
The longstanding sports administrator referenced two of the best road tennis players in the world in Mark ‘Venom’ Griffith and Michael ‘Jackson’ White playing a number of exhibition games. He compared that to watching Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic and said these are two of the best players in the world and participants were fortunate to see games of this magnitude free of cost.
Donovan praised the Minister of Sport, Youth and Community Empowerment Dwight Sutherland for taking sports back into the communities including road tennis.
Donovan emphasized that early next year Barbados will have a newly refurbished Deighton ‘Pa’ Roach road tennis facility which will become the number one road tennis complex in the world. These courts he stated would be able to host any regional or international competitions. Comparable he added what Lords is to cricket, Wembley is to football and Wimbledon to lawn tennis.
Abdul Rehman Awan from Pakistan (left) receving tips from Barbadian road tennis coach Winslow Birkett.
According to the veteran administrator, Barbados has some world class facilities with respect to the Garfield Sobers Gymnasium with an international size swimming pool, additional international accredited lawn tennis courts, and the mecca of cricket at Kensington Oval and soon to be rebuilt national stadium.
The government of Barbados he noted is committed towards ensuring that every person has an opportunity to play sports saying, “It is a testimony to the Mia Mottley administration that a number of our sports facility around the island will be upgraded to a magnitude that has never been seen in the history of Barbados.”
During the Dubai showcase over 90 participants were involved in the coaching sessions which attracted 34 countries from across the world. At the end of the ceremony players were given racquets and balls and those who were involved Donovan explained were highly commended for putting together a fruitful program.
Coming out of the program he said, “People who couldn’t hold a racquet on day one being involved in a number of rallies after day ten.”
morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb
