By Trevor Thwaites (St. George's correspondent)


ST.GEORGE's, Grenada: Director of Sports and Physical Education of the University of the West Indies St Augustine Trinidad Dr Iva Gloudon is proposing that Grenada and the region use Sport as a Vehicle for change. This was the message, as she delivered the keynote address at the 2005 Sports Personalities Awards Ceremony last week Saturday evening at the Flambouyant Hotel in Grand Anse. Dr Gloudon is confident that Sport can be the answer to the escalating crime and violence facing the region.

“I am suggesting that sport is also a force that could bind neighbourhoods and communities. It is also a force that could bring together persons who would not interact in any setting. It is a force that forges friendships that last for a lifetime. It is also a force that deals with moral, spiritual and ethical values that would be difficult to touch in any setting,” Dr Gloudon told the gathering. She said that many positives surrounding the issue of peace and cohesive living are have been achieved through Sport and physical activity.

The UWI official has suggested that regional governments and leaders, start looking at the development of programmes, facilities, coaches, teachers and instructors to develop and deliver Sport and Physical Education programmes to the masses. Such an approach she said will begin to turn around some of the depressing situations currently developing in our societies. Dr Gloudon emphatically stated that Sport has been underutilized. “We need to revolutionize our thinking regarding Sport and Physical Education and its uses beyond our high performance and elite athletes.”

She said that this method will also benefit what happens at the elite levels because the pool of talent from which to select international athletes will be much larger. Dr Gloudon admitted that the system has over the years been putting the elite athletes in the spotlight. But she noted that it is time the region recognizes that this is not the only aspect of sport that needs attention. She said that some of the most prolific health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, or bad nutrition are associated with inactivity and poor nutrition.

She warns the region that measures can be taken to eradicate or lessen the effects of such diseases. “When we focus solely or mostly on high performance and elite athletes, we miss the mark completely. We fail to recognize that Sport and Physical Education is not just for the benefit of a few, but for the benefit of the masses.” The UWI Director of Sport and Physical Education said that healthy populations are needed to accomplish the region’s goals and objectives.

“We need a healthy population in order to raise the standard of living. Solid Physical Education and Sport programmes geared towards the masses and not only to a few become a creative answer. The most important objective of these programmes is to influence the lifestyles of the masses.” Dr Gloudon said that such a programme from an early age through to the tertiary levels would start to achieve some of the national goals and objectives. “Fitness and activity for life, therefore, becomes the goal,” she said.