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A Guy's View: Celebrations good for national psyche
9/20/2009
By R.E. Guyson Mayers
On Thursday 17 September, 2009, Barbados welcomed home its world 110 metre hurdles champion, Ryan Brathwaite, in grand style. Generally speaking, Barbadians are not big on holding up their own, but the welcome accorded Ryan was an encouraging departure from this norm.
Celebrations of this type are important in the strengthening of our national psyche. We have not produced an abundance of athletic world contenders, let alone champions, but every champion we produce sends the message to all and sundry that we can produce other champions, in whatever field.
It is crucial for our young people to see us respect the Ryan Brathwaites among us, for it tells them that they too can attain our acknowledgement and celebration. And not only in athletics; they must understand that whatever their area of endeavour – academics, the arts, whatever – they have the potential to be the best in the world, and we are ready and willing to celebrate their achievement.
Listening to Ryan and those around him, one of the things that is often repeated is the turn around in his performance which came when he committed himself to working hard. Unfortunately, the way many of us relate to our young people, waiting on them hand and foot and taking all sense of responsibility away from them, has seemingly devoided many of them of a strong work ethic. Ryan’s story should tell them that they need to work hard if they are to be successful.
I wish to reiterate that we must make sure that the message goes across that once our people make the effort, nothing is beyond them and they can lead the world.
Our celebration of Ryan should say to the rest of our young people, “This is what is awaiting you.” I applaud the Government’s official welcome that was organised for Ryan. It demonstrated that someone understands what is needed with regard to the issues I have discussed herein. But there is more; I read in the press that the Sports Council has been providing financial assistance to Ryan and a few other athletes for some time now, and there is a plan in place to offer similar assistance to others who emerge with the requisite talent.
This is a good plan, but we must ensure that the maximum benefit is realised from this effort. Money is not unlimited and the little we have must be used efficiently. There should be an objective means by which persons qualify for this assistance; and an objective means of disqualification. When an athlete has been carried as far as he or she can go and it is clear that they will never make it beyond the also rans, it is time to look elsewhere. When an athlete is content to jog down the track behind the rest of the field, it is time to look elsewhere. When after years of trying, an athlete cannot get out of the first round of an international meeting, it is time to look elsewhere. When this time arrives, it is time to move on to the youngsters with genuine potential.
We have to ensure that performances like Ryan’s do not remain one off events. We also need to see 15 or 20 Barbadian athletes at the top international meetings. For this to be achieved we need to have a good foundation and an effective production system. Let us learn from the mistakes of the West Indies cricket team which has moved from being our glory to being our disgrace, all because we tried to build a house on sand.
I wish to congratulate the Government of Barbados for saying a loud “thank you” to Ryan on the behalf of all Barbadians in such a wonderfully tasteful manner. I also wish to commend the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for its complete coverage of this event.
It feels good to be a Barbadian, because of Ryan and because of all the others who I am sure will follow.
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