Trinidad Guardian - Online Edition
Monday 19th December, 2005
Sports play key role in unity—PM (http://guardian.co.tt/archives/2005-12-19/news10.html)
BY RADHICA SOOKRAJ
Prime Minister Patrick Manning has urged young people to get involved in sports in a bid to unite the country and to bring international glory to their homeland.
Speaking at the launch of the National Community Basketball Southern Championship at the Pleasantville Indoor Multi-purpose Complex on Saturday, Manning said sporting achievements have put T&T onto the international market in a way that has never been done before.
“If we had any doubt about the value of sports in national development, let us focus on the recent achievements of the Soca Warriors,” Manning said, referring to the national football team’s qualification for the World Cup in Germany next June.
He said when the Warriors returned to Trinidad after defeating Bahrain for the World Cup spot, the nation came together in a way that the politicians had tried for years to achieve.
“That day was a great day, to see people of all walks of life, different parts of the country, different ethnic backgrounds and social groups, coming together for one purpose,” Manning said.
He said sports work well in a plural society and was a dominating and powerful unifying force.
Manning said because of this, Government has acknowledged the value of sports and have now included it in the national schools curriculum.
“We recognise two aspects in the development of our nation, the development of island performance sports as well as international sports,” Manning said.
He explained that for the development of sports, Government needed to get a wide cross-section of the national community involved.
He said students who play sports are not only fit academically, but emotionally, and psychologically as well.
Manning added that sport development is also an option for those students who are not academically inclined.
Manning praised the president of the Progressive Basketball Association Leroy Cooper for organising the championship.
He said the partnership of the Government and the community was an essential ingredient for nation building.
“As the community progresses so, too, will the Government,” Manning said.
Chairman of the National Sports Company Gerard Ferreira urged young people to become involved in the championships and to ensure that basketball games grow throughout the communities.
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