Plans to establish a Regional Sports Academy (RSA) that will focus on the use of sports as a vehicle for deepening regional integration were formalised recently, when the task force held its first meeting in Suriname, according to a press release from the CARICOM Secretariat at Turkeyen.
The meeting of the RSA task force took place in Paramaribo from July 13 to July 15 and the members discussed major considerations and key parameters to advance the establishment of the academy.
The members of the task force, the release stated, include officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Alliance for Sport and Physical Education, Mark Mungal and Andre Collins; Director of Sport, Saint Lucia, Victor Reid; Director of Sport, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dave Connor; Programme Manager, Human Resource Development, CARICOM Secretariat, Dr. Morella Joseph; Deputy Programme Manager, Sport Development, CARICOM Secretariat, John Campbell; and Permanent Secretary within the Ministry with responsibility for Sport, Suriname, Michael Watson.
The RSA is an initiative of the Government of Suriname and it is being set up with broad objectives including regional integration, sport studies and development; talent identification and development; sport tourism and research.
In addition to being outfitted with dormitories, the institution when completed will have facilities for soccer, track and field, swimming and volleyball, among others.
The release noted that the initiative comes at a time when increased focus is being placed on the value of sport in fostering development in CARICOM.
Meanwhile, a brand style competition, which ends on August 8, has been launched to familiarise and inspire the participation of CARICOM nationals in the process of establishing the academy in respect of the design of its logo, letterhead and business card.
The release also stated that endorsement of the initiative has come from international sporting icon Clarence Seedorf, who has already donated a building in Paramaribo to be used as part of the RSA infrastructure.
