Special Olympics Dominica is on a drive to recruit more athletes for forthcoming international competitions. The nationwide recruitment will provide eligible athletes with the opportunity to commence training and feature in global events outside the shores of Dominica. The recruitment is open to athletes with intellectual disabilities.
The Special Olympics Dominica programme provides special training and competition opportunities to disabled children and adults with sporting abilities. Head of the Special Olympics Dominica, Ainsworth Irish, said his team has been going round the Kalinago Territory, Portsmouth and Roseau among other parts of the island to recruit volunteers.
“This is a big thing internationally and our number of active athletes has dropped from 60 to 35,” Irish said. “There should be a Caribbean game in Guadeloupe in 2021 and the world games in Germany will take place in 2023. We want to make sure we have a good athletic base and structure to participate.”
Meanwhile, leader of the Dominica Cricket Association, Augustine Pascal, called on sponsors to back talented sportsmen and women in Dominica. He said the lack of corporate sponsors is affecting the visibility and performance of great cricketers within and outside the country. He listed Alick Athanaze, Stephen Pascal, and Earsinho Fontaine as talented cricketers who are making the country proud.
“[Athanaze] can do promotions on their behalf and [sponsors] can assist him in other areas of his development,” Pascal said. “There are other athletes who were on his team in Grenada who are looked after by corporate Grenada. Why can’t it happen here? These people have to be looked after. It cannot be all on the parents and the system; they cannot do everything. Corporate Dominica and the business people have to step up.”
The cricket association leader also decried the situation where women cricketers do not turn up for trainings when called upon to do so. He said the association will invite women cricketers to address why they have not been turning up for meetings. He revealed that a women’s cricket tournament is scheduled to hold in St. Lucia from January 31 to February 7.
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