It’s important to treat people well, to have faith in them.

The little things that can make a difference don’t always receive the attention they deserve.

We let things slide. They appear trivial to those on the outside but they are important when building an environment that will facilitate success.

Little things such as respect.

In any organisation, group, sector, club or team, you have to have strong values and beliefs. They must be collective, collaborative and supportive. Everyone in the group must feel respected.

I am not talking about individuals; I am talking about letting things slide as a whole.

Sometimes it can slip without you noticing and only becomes clear when it has all gone wrong.

Were we honest enough? Did we address the problems?

The number of hours people put in to make sport work, everybody matters. They should be made to feel that their needs, concerns and issues matter.

Before we begin to talk about providing our elite athletes with the tools that they need to climb the podium, there are basic issues that can’t be ignored. Nothing must be left to chance. The difference between winning and losing is a fine line. But is that what it’s all about? Winning and

losing?

For many, excellence and discussion about excellence in sport gives the impression that elite sport and medals are the be all and end all of sport.

Sport isn’t only about being a champion.

Participating for the sheer love and joy must remain at the very core of sport.

Even professional sportsmen and women, for whom it’s a career, can’t lose the joy and passion. The moment that happens, the dip in performance becomes noticeable.

Achieving excellence is near impossible if passion and enthusiasm is lost.

It’s important that in our quest to provide our sportsmen and women with the tools to provide them with the best training programmes and preparation, we keep in mind that the love and passion must not be sacrificed.

At times coaches, trainers, managers and administrators can be accused of over thinking and over analyzing. Their demeanour and attitude can give the impression that sport is no longer about play and fun.

Somewhere along the line in our determination to be the best, to use sport to make a positive difference and to develop a sport industry, we may be losing sight of the fact that sport is play and fun.

The TTOC recently conducted research and the information on registered participants is not the kind that makes for a pretty picture. Under 35s are not participating in organised sports as they should.

It’s obvious that the love affair between T&T youths and sport is broken. Are participation rates in organised sports at its lowest level in the history of T&T sport?

We must not take the fun out of sport.

Those who wish to participate in sport for the sheer enjoyment of it must feel that they are more than welcomed and that sport is not an elite only club.


Brian Lewis is the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee www.ttoc.org.The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

Source