Sport permeates Caribbean culture and is one of the unifying elements of the region. Although Sport talent abounds in the West Indies, there exists a gap between sport prowess and a cadre of sport professionals with the advanced knowledge, skills and expertise to perform critical functions including managing elite athletes, professional sport teams, community leagues and sport facilities. Instances of underperformance by individual athletes and sport teams point to deficiencies in the technical aspects ofsport. Likewise, inattention to injuries and other risks have affected the performances of Caribbean athletes. Another phenomenon that has implications for sport in the region is climate change. As Small Island Developing States (SIDS) the Caribbean is susceptible to climate change. The islands also have high propensity for extreme heat and heavy rainfall. Therefore, sports such as cricket and football, which inevitably result in extended exposure to sunlight, rain and susceptibility to lightning, all pose serious health and safety risks to players and officials. Consequently, sport plans, policies and practices require shifts to mitigate the effects of these occurrences on competition, practice and play.

Speaker: Claudette Coote-Thompson

Published in: Canada International Conference on Education, 2023

• Date of Conference: 26-28 June, 2023
• DOI: 10.20533/CICE.2023.0003
• Electronic ISBN: 978-1-913572-58-7
• Conference Location: Residence and Conference Centre, Toronto, Canada