The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) is seeking to forge a stronger partnership with CARICOM to enhance the role of sport in regional development. Following high-level discussions at the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, during CANOC’s Annual Retreat earlier this year, the organization has expressed its commitment to collaborating on the finalization and implementation of the Draft Regional Strategy for Sporting Services.
CANOC President Keith Joseph hailed the meeting as a pivotal step in ensuring that sport is given the recognition it deserves as a critical component of Caribbean development and unity.
"CANOC indicated its readiness to engage in collaboration relative to the finalization of the Strategy, working assiduously to encourage its approval and be committed to its implementation. From our vantage point, this can only facilitate the more deliberate location of sport in all aspects as a critical pillar in regional development, not the least of which is Caribbean unity," Joseph stated.
The Draft Regional Strategy for Sporting Services, which has been under development for some time, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, with renewed focus from both CANOC and CARICOM, the organizations aim to integrate sport more deeply into the broader framework of economic and social development across the region.
Joseph emphasized the Caribbean’s rich sporting history and its impact on the global stage, underscoring the importance of leveraging these achievements to strengthen the region’s voice in international sporting governance.
"Through the achievements of our athletes in global sport, this Caribbean has confidently demonstrated our right to be participants, at every level, appropriately prepared to impact the decision-making processes that shape the future," he said.
A Call for Greater Government Support
In addition to its work with CARICOM, CANOC is also urging its member National Olympic Committees to lobby their respective governments to ensure sport is formally recognized as a vehicle for regional integration and progress.
"We need to impress upon our governments that CARICOM must locate sport as a critical pillar of development and regional integration. Together, we can make tremendous strides at every level," Joseph urged.
Joseph also highlighted the need for a multi-sectoral approach to sport development, calling for greater collaboration between public and private sector stakeholders.
As part of its mission, CANOC envisions a future where the Caribbean’s sporting bodies are fully unified, respected, and influential in shaping regional policies. The organization is determined to ensure that it commands a seat at the table of regional development and integration, playing a key role in shaping the trajectory of Caribbean sport.
"CANOC and CARICOM must, together, usher in a new dispensation that underpins a Caribbean that at once unites and inspires current and future generations to go BEYOND POSSIBLE," Joseph concluded.
With CARICOM and CANOC aligned on a shared vision, the hope is that sport will soon be formally enshrined as a pillar of Caribbean development, ensuring that the region’s rich sporting legacy continues to thrive and inspire generations to come.