Scott's words of gratitude - so nice to hear

Tony Becca, ON THE BOUNDARY

Dorian Scott is Jamaica's champion shot-putter, unlike the big guns of Jamaica's track and field who, for whatever reason, have decided to stay away from the Commonwealth Games, he is in Delhi, and if all Jamaicans are like me, they will be wishing him the very best of luck and cheering him along as he tries to win a gold medal.

In this day and age when so many of the country's sportsmen and sportswomen, with anger in their voice, talk about the sacrifices they have made for Jamaica, about what they have won for Jamaica, and about what Jamaica owes them, Scott seems to be a different kind.

Unlike so many in this land, including some of Jamaica's cricketers and footballers, Scott does not appear to be in sport because Jamaica forced them in to it, probably, against their will, held a gun at their head while insisting that they train regularly despite the pain, and therefore owe them, probably for a life-time.

On the contrary, Scott seems to be a man who speaks the truth - a man who is willing to admit that he is in sport because he loves sport, because he loves being actively involved in sport, probably because it is good for him, because he found out that he is good at his sport, because he loves competing, because he enjoys the thrill of victory, and because he wants to be the best.

grateful

Unlike so many, and I have listened to them many times, Scott is also a man who does not seem to be sitting back and waiting for Jamaica but one who is willing to accept that Jamaica, through the Government, the private sector, the national associations, the clubs, and volunteers, helped them along the way to the podium and is grateful to them and willing to say thank you.

Last week, with the stars having said no to attending the Games, with others pulling out, Scott, in response to a question from one of this newspaper's reporters, said: "I never planned on pulling out. They would've had to cancel it for me not to go."

That was great, but more was to come as he spoke about the faith that the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) and president Mike Fennell had in him and what they did for him.

"Obviously, I have run into many financial binds over my eight years of representing Jamaica and I have been helped out on several occasions over the years by the JOA, so I will always attend any type of Games that they are a part of organising," said the athlete.

"The JOA has had a big hand in helping me out in my career and I'm thankful. There hasn't been any male shot-putters out of the Caribbean in history to accomplish what I've been able to do over the years, and I feel like them coming to my rescue the times that they have over the span of my career was a risk on their part. They have helped substantially, so I have no problem doing these Games, no matter where it was going to be held."

wonderful and appreciative

Scott says he does not feel that he will be kidnapped or any thing like that. He also wants to see some of the sights that India has to offer - and there are many, historical and beautiful.

There have been some wonderful and appreciative sportsmen and sportswomen that have come out of Jamaica, men and women who achieved and who remembered the help they received, the help without which they could not have achieved.

Over the years, however, there have been those, too many of them, who cannot remember or fail to remember the assistance they got or who helped them, including the Government and the private sector who financed coaching, meets and competitions, lunches and sometimes dinner, bus fares, airfares, and hotel accommodation.

Sometimes, most times, they also don't remember the administrators, some of whom who bought spikes, bats, or balls out of their pocket and who helped with the school fees and the groceries, and the volunteers, the organisers and the coaches, who spent hours away from their family, away from their own children, teaching them a thing or two, passing on their experiences.

Thank you, Dorian Scott, for saying thanks to those who assisted you, and for reminding your colleagues, some of them, not so much of what they owe this country, but more so of what this country, its government, one after the other, businesses, institutions, and the people have done for them, and especially so when there is so much else to do, so much need for the country's limited resources.