Commonwealth Youth Games A Possibility For Near Future

Many common interests of the ministers and the nations they represent were discussed over the five days. Socials ills including poverty, crime and health were high on the agenda. Also, sports in the Commonwealth got lots of attention. In fact, according to our Minister of Youth (Sports and Housing) Hon. Neville Wisdom, something very fundamental in the way of sports might result from this particular ministers’ session.

In a chat with Minister Wisdom earlier this week, the importance of the meeting was emphasized. Most significantly for the sporting family of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Minister Wisdom informed of the possibility of a Commonwealth Youth Games.

"There have been talks about a coming together of the youth in the Commonwealth for a set of games, similar to the Carifta Games. This will be good. There is great interest and there is a good possibility that something like this will evolve," Minister Wisdom told "Sports View."

After a moment’s reflection, one considers it puzzling that such an event has never been organized. In the very same way, the Carifta youth of the Caribbean in athletics, boxing and swimming connect at an early age to forge friendships that carry over well into their senior careers and for many even beyond their competitive days, such can be the case with a Commonwealth Youth Games.

Minister Wisdom is extremely high on the concept.

He pointed to the fact that the Senior Commonwealth Games have gotten so big that small nations are unable to host them.

"The Commonwealth Games are too big for the smaller countries. There’s no doubt about that. A youth games however is another matter," said Minister Wisdom. We support his position that hosting the big Commonwealth Games would be over-taxing for nations like The Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados and even Jamaica and perhaps Trinidad/Tobago.

A youth games would be less costly in all regards.

At the same time, the youth would have an athletic forum for bonding and development.

The idea is a great one and hopefully Minister Wisdom and the other ministers who were present at the meeting this week will get favourable response when they communicate with their respective Cabinet Colleagues.

It would be wonderful if one of the first official international event at the proposed new National Stadium, some time in 2007-8, is the first Commonwealth Youth Games.