The Tribune

IT IS not how you start, nor how you get there. Most importantly, it’s how you finish.

• The Finish Line, a weekly column, seeks to comment on the state of affairs in local sports, highlighting the highs and the lows, the thrills and the spills and the successes and failures.

THE WEEK THAT WAS

IT’S been just over a week since the passage of Hurricane Matthew and the Bahamas has been in a recovery mode as people try to get back to normality.

In an effort to assist many Bahamians who have been affected, a number of charities have been lending their support in a hurricane relief effort.

At least one major sporting organisation has extended a helping hand and should be commended for the role they are playing.

The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, one of the largest sporting bodies in the country, has opened what they call “Project Quick Relief.”

According to Public Relations Officer Philip Gray, the initiative, which takes effect immediately, is consistent with president Rosamunde Carey’s concerns prior to the onslaught of Hurricane Matthew last week.

In her correspondence with their stakeholders, Gray said Carey has been making direct contact with constituents of the federation, in particular those in Grand Bahama and Andros, in the aftermath.

Their focus is on monetary donations along with water, non-perishable food, clothing and athletic gear in excellent condition. All checks are to be made out to the BAAA in its hurricane relief fund.

In a leadership role, Carey has begun the fund with a personal donation of $500.

For those persons who wish to assist, they can contact project officers Sandra Laing and Dexter Bodie to lead the assessment.

It’s a keen gesture by the BAAA and should be one that other sporting organisations follow.

So many times, the sporting bodies rely on the public, especially whenever they travel to the various Family Islands, or the Family Islanders have to come to the capital for the financial support for their events.

Hurricane Matthew was all about the destruction of structures, particularly in New Providence, Grand Bahama and mainly North Andros.

It’s going to take some time for some people to recover from the devastation left behind. But as we continue to serve as our brother’s keepers, we will eventually get the Bahamas back to normality.

Efforts like those initiated by the BAAA should go a long way in assisting to make life easier for those Bahamians that they can touch.

Let’s hope that those Bahamians who can make a contribution will reach out and assist the BAAA in this venture.

It’s a worthy cause that can have a profound effect on a number of Bahamians who are in need.

CYG ALL SET

Despite the passing of Hurricane Matthew and the destruction left behind at various sporting venues, the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games is still on the agenda for the major sporting activities for 2017.

Bahamas Olympic Committee President Wellington Miller and Vice President Roy Colebrooke both travelled to Edmonton, Canada last week where they assured the 70 countries registered in the Commonwealth that all systems are go in the Bahamas.

Miller and Colebrooke indicated that they have done their job in articulating the Bahamas’ readiness to put on what they are considering to be one of the best and biggest sporting events ever to be staged in the Bahamas.

Obviously there were some concerns pertaining to the passage of Hurricane Matthew, but with the CYG not scheduled until July, there’s sufficient time to ensure that all reconstruction efforts are completed.

This will be the first time that a Commonwealth Games event will be held in the Caribbean in 50 years so every effort is being made to ensure that it’s celebrated by all involved in the 8-9 disciplines.

THE WEEK AHEAD

The New Providence Softball Association and the Bahamas Government Departmental Softball Association are two of the sporting entities that have been affected by their games being played at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex since the passing of Hurricane Matthew.

While the NPSA has come up with a contingency plan to reduce their best-of-5 playoff series to a best-of-three series with games being played on Saturday and Sunday during the day because of a power outage at the Banker’s Field, the BGDSA is in a more difficult dilemma.

All four fields at the adjacent park have had major damages and are not in any condition to play on right now. So it’s obvious that the BGDSA will not be able to continue its regular season games this weekend.

It would appear that much more time would be needed to have those repairs completed.

There is a more sense of urgency for the NPSA in that they will have to be finished with their championship series and their two champions crowned before the end of the month when the Bahamas Softball Federation hosts its National Round Robin Tournament at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

So let’s hope that the necessary repairs will be done so that there’s no further disruption for any of the sporting bodies in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.