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Volume No. 1 Issue No. 46 - Friday August 15, 2003
No Home Advantage in Geneva
by: Raymond Henderson

By the time Grenada finished whipping hosts Dominica 3-0 in soccer - the final event of the Windward Island Inter-Secondary Schools Games at Geneva, Grand Bay - it was already confirmed that the Night of Gold belonged to St. Lucia.

gamesSt. Lucia had earlier defeated host and former champions, Dominica, 3-0 in the volleyball finals to complete their dominance this year. So when the golden sunset followed the final event, the night belonged to new champions.

Up until Monday three teams were poised to take home the championship: Dominica, Grenada, and St. Lucia. But on the final day, the stage was set for the winners to excel.

As hosts, the challenges started early when Dominica had difficulty convincing the organizers that it was a good idea to have the games in Dominica. Did the country have the capacity to host the games given its current economic problems? Ms. Lynette Glasgow was appointed representative of the team managers who reviewed the games. She reported: �It turned out to be an excellent and healthy atmosphere for children.�

The Grand Bay Secondary school and the adjacent Geneva playground, river and unusually calm Atlantic Ocean proved perfect for the action. Ms. Glasgow continued that there were also reservations about the remoteness of Grand Bay from the Capital Roseau.

She said however that it was good for competition because the location of the games denied the Dominican team the home crowd advantage - a crucial psychological boost at these games. In fact, the crowds were very small and only the opening and closing ceremonies drew any significant gatherings.

So on Tuesday, August 5 � the final day of rivalry - the sun stood still in a blue sky and the Atlantic breeze lay calm, setting up a crisp day for competition in sports at Geneva. But the Dominican Team was nervous. They were hosts and defending champions of the $250,000 EC games and little was going their way at this point.

Indeed they were looking for miracles and more to avoid finishing a humiliating last. And when St. Vincent defeated Grenada (3-1) in their final volleyball match in the morning, then St. Lucia edged out St. Vincent (3-2) in their final soccer game that afternoon, Dominica would finish third overall.

Dominica�s last two performances lacked luster. The women had already been defeated the day before and were quietly licking their wounds. When the men took to the courts for their volleyball final against their arch-rivals St. Lucia, their body language said it all. An ill-prepared team, were easy picking for the well managed St. Lucians. They Pounded Dominica 3-0.

Lunch was difficult to digest as the soccer team prepared for their afternoon game. Dominica had not done well so far in soccer. On that final match they gave their best performance. But their best was too little too late. They got a 3-0 thrashing from the �Vincies�. It was the rubbing of salt in a gapping wound of defeat for the Dominicans.

However; the team was disciplined, even in defeat. So when the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Representative for Grand Bay (currently on medical leave) made a special effort to attend the closing ceremonies, he urged all participants to learn from the home contingent�s example: �Transfer that discipline exhibited at the games to your schools, the community and the country where you return, irrespective of the challenges.� The PM said.

In the end, the wave of athletes that inundated Grand Bay for seven days and seven nights had overwhelmed the gatekeepers. Crushed in competition on their home turf, they settled in third place to new champions St. Lucia and runners-up Grenada. And after seven days of fine weather, the rain came down on the proceedings of the closing ceremonies.

Comments about this article? Email:
editor@
thedominican.net
Telephone:
1-571-236-9502
Fax:
1-202-589-7937

Volume No. 1 Issue No. 46
No Home Advantage in Geneva
Bagdad on my Family
Do we Have all the Answers?
The Challenges of Organic Farming
Not Convinced on Organic Farming




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