For close to 22 years, I have worked as a sports journalist, reporting on the performances of men and women in their respective disciplines.
In offering comment, it is imperative that we are holistic in our assessment, factoring in all the circumstances.
There is more to assess when reporting on performances away from home, and journalists are not always able to fully appreciate what it takes for an athlete to get it right when not in his comfort zone. Sadly, we sometimes miss the mark in evaluating what we see on the field of play.
Then came the 1st AIPS America Games, and an opportunity for another perspective. Sports journalists from this part of the world are gathered here in Medellin, Colombia to compete against each other.
Many of us compete at home. But a sprinter, middle distance runner, footballer or table tennis player representing his club in a local event is a far different experience to going abroad and carrying the responsibility of performing for Trinidad and Tobago.
The one time I played for my country, in the junior boys’ singles at the 1984 Caribbean Table Tennis Championships, the tournament was staged in T&T.
Twenty-nine years later, I am in Colombia and preparing to go into battle for my country. This opportunity has been granted to me by One Caribbean Media (OCM), and I look forward to representing OCM and T&T in the 1st AIPS America Games table tennis singles event.
I have no doubt I will be the better for it, both as a sports journalist and a player.
Already, it has been an enriching experience, helping me to become more appreciative of the challenges our athletes face away from home.
Let’s start with the language barrier. On the list of 18 participating countries, 14 are Spanish-speaking. T&T is the only English-speaking country taking part in this historic event. Since I am the only T&T representative here, I am wearing multiple hats—athlete, official, journalist.
From a two-hour long meeting on Monday, where attempts were made to finalise arrangements for the Games, I went to my first training session. Thanks to my new Chilean friend, Leandro Antonio Shara, who translated for me during the meeting, the two hours were not wasted.
On Sunday, I was told that an arrangement was being made for a Colombian player to join me at the playing venue on Monday morning. I felt relieved, since not having a training partner would have been a problem.
Well, I am yet to see that promised practice partner. I remember Dexter St Louis—T&T’s best ever table tennis player—being the lone selectee for a major overseas assignment, and hearing from him how challenging it was.
I would have sympathised with his plight at the time. Now, I can empathise.
But I was determined to remain positive, and practiced serves by myself.
Then, university English student Daniela Zapata showed up. A volunteer at the Games, Daniela had translated for me during Sunday’s opening ceremony. Shortly after I explained that I had no training partner, she left the venue and returned with Javier Bejesus Valencia Velasquez.
Javier offered to practice with me, and though I had my reservations after he produced his racket—the smallest real racket you will ever see—he proved to be more than able.
After an extended training session with Javier, Daniela and another volunteer/university student, Maria Rico Steffenes, carried me to the mall to purchase a sim card for my mobile phone. Perhaps, I thought, I would be able to get a pair of playing shoes at the mall, just in case my trusty but beaten pair finally surrendered during the tournament.
No such luck! Apparently, not many Colombians wear size 14.
Before leaving T&T for the AIPS America Games, I sought advice from two Caribbean champions—St Louis and Anthony “Sandfly” Brown—about coping with the high altitude of Medellin. The city is about 1,500 metres above sea level, and I wanted to know what I was getting myself into before leaving the sea level comfort of sweet T&T.
It’s now Tuesday morning here in Medellin, and the language barrier continues to be a problem. I can’t find Leandro, Daniela has not yet arrived, and I’m desperately seeking information about the table tennis tournament.
If there are any young readers out there, let this be a lesson. Take Spanish seriously, and French too. You never know when a foreign language will come in handy. To my Spanish and French teachers at QRC who tried to convince me to apply myself, the last laugh is yours.
Anyway, I just got a call that a member of the organising committee is in the lobby, prepared to answer all my questions.
I’m back, and the news is he had no news. The truth is that this is not the first, and it certainly will not be the last assignment where the needs of the English-speaking have not been adequately met.
But the name of the game is being resourceful and getting the job done, regardless of the circumstances. What I do know is the table tennis tournament will be staged tomorrow, and I need to be prepared.
Sunday night’s opening ceremony was staged at the table tennis venue, Rodrigo Perez Castro Coliseo de Tenis de Mesa.
There was no need for a translator when Javier Sotomayor appeared with the AIPS America Games torch. Love is a universal language, and from the loud cheers he received, it was obvious that Cuba’s 1992 Olympic high jump champion and world record holder (2.45 metres) is adored in this part of the world.
I may not be revered like a Sotomayor, but I deeply appreciated the cheers I received as I paraded, proudly waving the Red, White and Black.