Students from the Northern Caribbean University clad proudly in their fletcher jerseys after a full day of sporting activities during the university’s Sports Day on March 5, 2019.

photo credit: Northern Caribbean University

By: Jevon Thomas

Mandeville, Jamaica- Male and female Sports Directors for the United Student Movement 2020-2021 regime, Matthew Berry and Ketra Salmon say they’re ready to face the possible challenges in the sector as the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) prepares for a virtual academic year.

According to the Directors, they’re ready for the task despite the drastic changes made in sports worldwide due to COVID-19.

In an interview on Thursday, August 6, 2020, both directors expressed their concerns to the Hilltop Trumpet in relation to the financial and physical support from the university and its students.

“COVID has affected our plans greatly as our activities comprise of physical interaction and socialization. We are currently in dialogue with social development to acquire guidelines for social distancing in games like football, netball, badminton etc, Intercol is currently working on that aspect, so we are awaiting the response from social development as to how to play these games,” shared Berry.

He added that as it relates to other pre-sporting games, like domino and Ludo, considerations are being for students to participate both virtually and physically.

“Both would require students to be at school so that we can monitor each game and ensure fairness, as points will be allocated for each team. If done physically, players would have to wear a mask and will be subjected to a temperature check along with proper sanitizing. Amidst all this, we are still brainstorming to find other ways to make this a possibility without too many complications,” noted Berry.

Both directors stressed the importance of the funds that will be allocated to this sector from the reading of the budget scheduled for October 2020.

Meanwhile, Female Sports Director, Ketra Salmon said, “considering the fact that most of our students will not be present for this fall semester, most of our major fundraising activities will have to be pushed back to the spring semester, with hopes for an increase in the number of students who will be on campus.”

She revealed that funds allocated to the sports sector will be crucial in helping them to successfully carry their planned activities for fall, whether physically or online.

Activities mentioned in both manifestos included the usual alumni and pre-sporting activities leading up to sports day, as well as Go-karting, Skate Land and the sale of flags to raise funds to support Sports day 2021.