Sports - Contribution To Caribbean Society

Contribution of Sports to Caribbean Society
What is Sport (or sports)?
Sport (or sports) is all forms of usually competitive physical activity

which,
o through casual or organised participation,
o aim to use, maintain or improve physical ability and skills while
o providing entertainment to participants,
o and in some cases, spectators.
Sport is generally recognised as activities which are based in physical

athleticism or physical dexterity,
o with the largest major competitions such as the Olympic Games
admitting only sports meeting this definition,
o and other organisations such as the Council of Europe using
definitions precluding activities without a physical element from
classification as sports.
However, a number of competitive, but non-physical, activities claim

recognition as mind sports. (What do you think of that?)
The International Olympic Committee recognises both chess and

bridge as bona fide sports, and
SportAccord, the international sports federation association,

recognises five non-physical sports, although limits the amount of mind
games which can be admitted as sports.
Sports is a major source of entertainment for non-participants, with

spectator sports drawing large crowds to venues, and reaching wider
audiences through sports broadcasting.
What are the benefits of sport to individuals, society and
the economy?
ECONOMIC IMPACT
 In 2010, sport and sport-related activity contributed £20.3
billion to the English economy.
 Sport and sport-related activity is estimated to support over

400,000 full-time equivalent jobs, 2.3% of all jobs in England.
 Diverse dimensions: manufacturing, services, media coverage,

sponsorship, research and publication, gambling
HEALTH IMPACT
 Physical activity, including sport, is linked to reduced risk of over
20 illnesses, including cardiovascular disease and some cancers
 Taking part in regular sport can save between £1,750 and £6,900
in healthcare costs per person.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACT

 The positive effects of sport on education include improved
attainment, lower absenteeism and drop-out, and increased
progression to higher education.
 Sport programmes aimed at youths at risk of criminal behaviour

can enhance self-esteem and reduce reoffending.
The Value of Sport for Community Development

 Critical areas for consideration include:
Sport for Development

The use of sport as a development tool to promote positive ideals in
individuals especially as it relates to conflict resolution, inculcation of
healthy lifestyles, positive use of leisure time, development of
tolerance, and the promotion of peace.
Sports Tourism
The generation of income and the development of jobs through the
promotion of sports–based tourism.
Sport Development
The development of sport infrastructure and facilities and the human

resources to support the efficient use, maintenance and activities
related to such structures.
Sports as a Symbol of Caribbean Identity and International

Recognition
- The Olympics
Find out about the Sport and Development Sub Programme of

CARICOM.
Traditional Sports in the Caribbean
Sports is both a social and cultural phenomenon in the Caribbean.
In the Caribbean, sports act as a force that brings people together and
provide them with a sense of unity, creating feelings of pride in and
identification with the athletes who represent them at the
international level.
Through sports, colonialism is resisted and nationalism is reinforced.
Sports are connected to other areas of society, such as politics and

culture.
For example, Professors John Mitrano and Robbin Smith have

suggested that horse racing in St. Croix helped repair the “social
fabric” of the Caribbean island in the months after it was devastated
by Hurricane Hugo.
Sports also provide an additional reason to get out of the home,

interact with hundreds of others in a festive atmosphere, and connect
with others who share a common goal.
Many sports are practiced in the Caribbean but the following are most
popular.
Cricket
Cricket is the most popular sport in the British Caribbean.
Although imported, this sport has been domesticated and transformed

into a vehicle for emerging nationalist and democratic ideas.
It became a unifying link among the British Caribbean countries with

the creation of a common team that brings together 15 territories
under the same uniform and that has become a symbol
of Caribbean unification.
The Caribbean has produced some of the most famous cricketers in

the world.
Baseball
Baseball is played and avidly followed mainly in the Dominican
Republic, Cuba and Puerto Rico.
Baseball is also very popular in Mexico and Venezuela and both

countries participate in the Caribbean Series.
Many of the best players in the world are originally from the
Caribbean.
Football (Soccer)
Football is among the most popular sports in the Caribbean.
Most of the countries in the region have teams that are part of the
FIFA’s CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and
Caribbean Association Football)
and compete in the CONCACAF Champions League and the CONCACAF

gold cup.
Teams such as the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago and the

Reggae Boyz of Jamaica have played in the Football World Cup Finals.
Horse Racing
Horse racing is not usually associated with the Caribbean, but the
“sport of kings” is very popular in Barbados, the Dominican
Republic, Nevis, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Croix
and Trinidad and Tobago.
A new racetrack has just been built in St Lucia.

Track and Field
Caribbean athletes have dominated the world stage in Track and Field
since the 1948 London Olympics.
Current stars like Usain Bolt, Lavern Spencer, Kim Collins, Kirani James
and Yohan Blake dominate in events in their various fields.
Jamaica athletes are particularly famous.
Polo
The sport of polo does not have as many fans as cricket or horse
racing, but it is popular in Barbados.
Jamaica and the Dominican Republic also have teams.
Rugby
Many Caribbean islands with heavy British influences remain partial to

a game of rugby.
The sport is played in Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, St. Lucia and

Trinidad and Tobago, to name just a few examples.
Golf
Golf has long been a popular pastime in the Caribbean and many of the
Caribbean’s top resorts also boast golf courses.
Sailing
Sailing is big business in the region.

Yacht racing takes place across the islands throughout the year, with
many of the best sailing teams in the world traveling to the Caribbean
for competitions.
What do you know about the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers?
‘Non-Traditional’ Sports in the Caribbean

Check out thirteen ‘non-traditional sports’ the Caribbean has competed
at the Olympic level:
1. Badminton
2. Boxing
3. Cycling
4. Decathlon (10 track and field events)
5. Diving
6. Equestrian
7. Table tennis
8. Taekwondo
9. Triathlon
10. Sailing
11. Shooting
12. Steeplechase (an obstacle race in athletics)
13. Weightlifting
OTHER/INFORMAL SPORTS
Goat Races / Crab Races

Since 1925, goats and jockeys have competed on a 100-yard track
during the Buccoo Goat Racing Festival in Tobago.
In the competition, which takes place on the Tuesday following Easter
Sunday, jockeys run barefoot behind the goats and use tree branches
as whips.
Crab races are also held in the same town using thread and bamboo
stakes as the finish line in an event that is both more serious and more
entertaining than it sounds.
Cockfighting
Although animal rights activists oppose it, cockfighting is a part of
local culture in some parts of the Caribbean, especially in Puerto Rico,
where the sport is extremely popular and hundreds of millions of
dollars are wagered each year on the fights.
Cockfighting is also popular in the Dominican Republic, where more than

1,500 cockfighting pits are registered, and in Cuba and Haiti.
Questions:
1. Using examples, explain how sports tourism has contributed

to Caribbean development.
2. Describe the contribution made by sports to:
 Regional integration
 Economic development
3. Could the Caribbean host the Olympic games? Justify your
answer.
4. Discuss the benefits the region has had from the WI
Cricket Team’s success.
5. Make a list of 12 internationally famous Caribbean sports
personalities. What are they famous for?

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Contribution of Sports to Caribbean Society

What is Sport (or sports)?

Sport (or sports) is all forms of usually competitive physical activity

Sport is generally recognised as activities which are based in physical

However, a number of competitive, but non-physical, activities claim

The International Olympic Committee recognises both chess and

SportAccord, the international sports federation association,

Sports is a major source of entertainment for non-participants, with

 Sport and sport-related activity is estimated to support over

 Diverse dimensions: manufacturing, services, media coverage,

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPACT

 Sport programmes aimed at youths at risk of criminal behaviour

The Value of Sport for Community Development

Sport for Development

The development of sport infrastructure and facilities and the human

Sports as a Symbol of Caribbean Identity and International

Find out about the Sport and Development Sub Programme of

Traditional Sports in the Caribbean

Sports is both a social and cultural phenomenon in the Caribbean.

Sports are connected to other areas of society, such as politics and

For example, Professors John Mitrano and Robbin Smith have

Sports also provide an additional reason to get out of the home,

Although imported, this sport has been domesticated and transformed

It became a unifying link among the British Caribbean countries with

The Caribbean has produced some of the most famous cricketers in

Baseball is also very popular in Mexico and Venezuela and both

and compete in the CONCACAF Champions League and the CONCACAF

Teams such as the Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago and the

A new racetrack has just been built in St Lucia.

Jamaica athletes are particularly famous.

Jamaica and the Dominican Republic also have teams.

Many Caribbean islands with heavy British influences remain partial to

The sport is played in Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, St. Lucia and

Sailing is big business in the region.

What do you know about the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers?

‘Non-Traditional’ Sports in the Caribbean

Goat Races / Crab Races

Cockfighting is also popular in the Dominican Republic, where more than

1. Using examples, explain how sports tourism has contributed

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