Time to commercialise - Netball Jamaica president sees benefits of sports without spectators
Published:Monday | February 1, 2021 | 12:22 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer -
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Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson said that having local sports return without spectators wouls present a unique opportunity to the various sporting bodies to develop the commercial aspects of their sports. Prime Minister Andrew Holness...
Netball Jamaica President Tricia Robinson said that having local sports return without spectators wouls present a unique opportunity to the various sporting bodies to develop the commercial aspects of their sports.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness told Parliament last week that the Government was looking at the slow reintroduction of sports that have been suspended indefinitely since March of last year because of COVID-19.
Holness said, though, that there would be restrictions, including no spectators, at venues.
But Robinson, who was encouraged by Holness’ announcement, does not believe that not having spectators at the venues is necessarily a bad thing.
“We have no problem with that because now, you have to look at the commercialisation aspect, which is where my head space has always been,” she said.
“So I may not be able to bring spectators to the game, but I must be able to bring the game to spectators whether mainstream or online media.”
Robinson said that this would also present other opportunities for sporting associations to earn and promote individuals and their sport as a collective.
She says that Netball Jamaica is still awaiting the complete Government ground rules under which it should operate before finalising its safety protocols.
Robinson said that the February window is too short while pointing to a number of concerns she has regarding testing.
“I am waiting for the orders,” she said. “Sometimes when you have the orders, it gives a little more sense around it to see how we can operate.
“So I await the orders to know exactly how we will go ahead. For example, you have a restriction on the gathering of over 15. So how does that relate to team sports. So the orders will tell us exactly what is what.
“We just want to know how to operate. We are looking at the 20-odd days, but what really can we do in 20-odd days.
“How will testing go? Who will do the tests? Who will bear the cost? Will Government assist us?
“Plus, it’s more than one sport. It’s a lot of us. Some big teams might [be able to] do it, but how many big teams do we have? So there are still a lot of questions.”