One hundred road tennis sets will be distributed to schools across Barbados as part of the inaugural Aone Supermarkets/Carter’s General Stores National Road Tennis Day on June 25.
The announcement was made at the launch event held at the JB Simpson Complex on Thursday.
Coordinator Ricardo Marshall said the nationwide donation forms part of activities marking the new observance, which will also include a recognition ceremony at the Combermere School.
“So never again or you will ever hear or you should ever hear any child from any school, saying they want to play road tennis but they have no equipment,” he asserted.
Marshall said among the persons set to be recognised is Lance Bynoe, who is widely recognised as the “father” of road tennis. “We will also be paying tribute to Peter Moore. For years he stood alone at the National Sports Council, traveling up and down, two and fro as the only Road Tennis coach. We will also be paying tribute to Mr Kenmore Bynoe. In terms of promoting road tennis in Barbados and taking it from the streets, from the gaps, and bringing it to national attention, one name stood tall.”
Marshall said the programme will include tributes to past and present players, while 3 000 copies of his book Strength in Road Tennis will be distributed to schools across the island. He also outlined his long-term vision for the sport.
“To have a road tennis festival starting first with the Caribbean islands and have them involved in the different competitions and everything, and then a combination of a national road tennis day, with other islands and coming here vying for the Lance Bynoe Cup,” he revealed.
Managing Director of Aone Supermarkets Andrew Bynoe, who is also the nephew of Lance Bynoe, said they are pleased to be associated with Marshall’s efforts to continually promote road tennis. He called for national recognition for the role played by the elder Bynoe in establishing the sport, which he now hopes will become globally adopted.
“A lot of people recognise where this sport can go to the extent that there are some who are calling for this to be recognised within the Olympics. I give full support to any organisation that will take this sport to where Lance Bynoe envisaged that it could be,” he concluded.
(KH)
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