WE believe it’s appropriate to applaud Jamaica Olympic Association President Mr Christopher Samuda for his persistence in urging the development of infrastructure to nurture and grow sport in this country.

Other sport leaders should follow his example.

Early last month Mr Samuda, who also heads the Jamaica Paralympic Association, described sports facilities as “cornerstones” for “performance optimisation of athletes and the architecture of sport”.

Said he back then: “A swimmer’s aspirations will drown without investment in a pool… Sport thrives in the wake of facilities built and maintained for talent and generational success.”

In July, Mr Samuda was referring to the urgent need for Jamaica to follow the example of countries like Colombia in modernising and expanding sports infrastructure.

This week, against the backdrop of outstanding performances by Jamaican athletes at the Commonwealth Games in Scotland, and the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC) in the Dominican Republic, Mr Samuda reiterated his call.

He argued that “an essential element of a workman’s toolkit in sport is a proper facility in which to train and ply his or her trade”.

And that, “Modern and functional sporting facilities are the training and conditioning grounds for talent matriculation and success. Centres with appropriate amenities and managed by people certified in… facility management and with business competencies provide access and are venues for grass roots development initiatives and community sport, both of which provide a talent pool.”

Crucially, Mr Samuda isn’t merely calling on Jamaica’s cash-strapped Government — severely set back by Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact — to act.

He wants the partnership of private and public sectors on the back of recognition that sport is a fast-growing, multi-trillion-dollar industry globally.

He tells us that, “Bilateral and multi-partnerships are, customarily, the vehicles utilised for capital investment in sport — and skilled strategists will understand that grant funding will sweeten the pot. Whatever is the framework, the outcome must be a network of proper facilities that allows [athletes] to play and achieve.”

According to him, the Jamaica Paralympic Association is planning the construction of a high-performance, indoor, multi-sport Paralympic complex, with the help of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.

From this distance it would appear that the project could serve as an inspiration for others.

Mr Samuda says the “…Paralympic complex… will also serve as an Olympic hunting ground… which will be able to accommodate pursuits in myriad… sports including basketball, netball, badminton, volleyball, judo, tae kwon do, karate, fencing, handball, and teqball.”

To be fair to the Government, it has come a long way since its appalling decision to decline hosting rights for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup two years ago.

Only recently — at the formal signing of agreements for Jamaica’s co-hosting of the 2031 FIFA Senior Women’s World Cup alongside United States, Costa Rica, and Mexico — Sports Minister Ms Olivia Grange spoke of the expected “significant economic injection…”.

Said Ms Grange: “Indirect economic impact will come from a large number of international visitors; and spending on food, transport, and tours. Media/TV exposure of Kingston will also be of priceless value to our tourism brand.”

We believe modern sports facilities, developed over time in a well-planned, coordinated way, will consistently and decisively assist such economic injection and brand promotion.