NOC in new developmental initiatives undertaken
The St Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee, NOC, has undertaken yet another initiative in respect of the development of sports in the multi-island State.
The NOC has secured funding for the implementation of a broad-based Talent Identification Programme involving athletics, basketball, boxing, cycling, table tennis and tennis.
The programme was launched officially at the Olympic House, headquarters of the NOC, a few weeks ago.
The approach is not new, since several national sports associations here have long since been involved in outreach programmes of one sort or another in the past.
Clearly, there have been problems with their organisation, coordination, funding and sustainability. This explains why the new initiative assumes such monumental importance.
Team Athletics St Vincent and the Grenadines, TASVG, launched its Right On Track, ROT, Grassroots Talent Identification Programme in the latter part of 2005 and has been on the road ever since.
The new initiative undertaken by the NOC provides a basic platform for the systematic construction of a sports development strategy for the sports identified.
The NOCs Programme aims at ensuring that every Saturday will see the provision of opportunities for children of at least six communities in St Vincent and the Grenadines to become involved in some sort of sporting activity at the most basic, introductory level.
Grassroots Talent Identification The Coaching Caravan
The NOCs Talent identification Programme targets athletes in the age range of 618 years, depending on the particular sport.
The new initiative being undertaken by the NOC with the six sporting disciplines constitutes a strategy for Grassroots Development of these sporting disciplines. This approach essentially features a Coaching Caravan format that takes a cadre of coaches to different parts of the country introducing the basics of the respective sporting disciplines to children.