5: CONTRIBUTIONS OF SPORT

Challenges Athletes face

1] Many athletes are faced with financial problems. These may include;

Inability to attend international meets due to work commitments and the cost of attending

these meets. These include travel, accommodation and tournament fees.

Local organisations may not be able to generate enough funds to send team or individuals

to international meets. Additionally, Caribbean nations may not have international

standard facilities that can be used to attract foreign world ranked athletes. This in turn

may hamper the athlete’s chances of medalling when competing against world ranked

athletes/teams.

Governments may not have the funds needed to build Olympic/international standard

facilities such as swimming pools, courts and tracks. These facilities may not always be

practical. This may mean that if these are provided by private enterprises, the user fees

may be too much for the athletes to use regularly. Consequently, this hampers his ability

to adequately prepare for international meets.

Where visa requirements exist, athletes may be unable to secure such.

Athletes may not be able to secure private sponsorship for attendance at international

meets e.g. Suki King.

2] Many regional athletes may not be aware of the restrictions related to drug use. They may

therefore take medications that are banned substances and forgo international rankings. They

may be ignorant of the IAAF rules concerning such.

3] Access to certify trained IAAF or other coaches at the highest levels.

4] Access to physiotherapists and other medical personnel to work with teams during preparation

for meets as well as at the meets.

5] Access to facilities in their home country because they have to be shared with all others in

thee society.

6] Access/ exposure to technological improvements used in their sport. This may be due to the

cost of such.