EDITORIAL: In support of our young athletes

While many children will spend their Easter break relaxing, there are two groups of young athletes who will be working hard to bring glory to the Cayman Islands at CARIFTA championships.

The islands’ top swimmers will be in Barbados for the CARIFTA Aquatic Championships, while the most promising track and field stars have the honour of having “Cayman Islands” emblazoned across their chest as they compete against their peers on home soil.

For the first time since 2010, the Caribbean’s marquee youth track and field showcase will be held at Truman Bodden Sports Complex over the Easter Weekend. Our own will do their best to display why the Cayman Islands has the talent to compete with our neighbours in a sport that brings joy to so many across the region. These are the same Games that propelled Kareem Streete-Thompson and Cydonie Mothersill to stardom with each winning the prestigious Austin Sealy Award as the top performer at the CARIFTA Games.

Will Cayman have another star who can display similar efforts on home soil? We can only hope so. What they need is the support of the community to come out and cheer them on and be as vocal as possible. The Bahamians and Jamaicans have very energetic cheering sections who travel with their teams to spur on their athletes. Cayman should not feel like an away team when they compete at home.

At the same time, we should have the swimmer on our minds. They have often brought home the medals and we should be prepared to give them a hero’s welcome when they return.

Remember, they’re doing this for the honour and glory while proudly representing the Cayman Islands. To borrow a phrase from our cricketing neigbours, let’s rally ‘round our athletes.