More than 2 000 children took part in this year’s National Summer Camp Programme, which culminated on Wednesday with the annual Sports for Peace Track and Field Finals at the Usain Bolt Complex.
The event brought together young athletes from across the programme for a day of competition, teamwork and camaraderie, while reinforcing the campaign’s message of promoting peaceful and inclusive communities.
Acting Deputy Representative of UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Shorat Orazov said the finals represented the culmination of the summer’s anti-violence campaign and showcased the “energy, talent, and potential” of Barbados’ young people.
Acting Deputy Representative of UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Shorat Orazov. (Photo Credit: Shamar Blunt)
“I’m so pleased to join you today as we celebrate National Summer Camp Sports 2026, the culmination of this year’s anti-violence campaign and a wonderful demonstration of the energy, talent, and potential of Barbados’ young people,” Orazov said.
He noted that through UNICEF’s partnership with the Division of Youth Affairs, participants engaged in activities designed to foster recreation and teamwork while developing skills to help them build peaceful, supportive and inclusive communities.
“Throughout the summer, participants developed important skills, such as communication, teamwork, empathy, emotional awareness, and peaceful conflict resolution,” he said.
Orazov said those skills could benefit young people at school, at home and in their communities, while preparing them to become positive leaders in the future.
Acting Permanent Secretary of the Division of Youth Affairs Cleviston Hunte also urged the athletes to focus on the experience of competing rather than simply seeking victory.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Division of Youth Affairs Cleviston Hunte. (Photo Credit: Shamar Blunt)
“It’s a lovely day for track and field,” Hunte said.
“I ask you to remember one thing as we go through this day. The joy of this day is in competing and not necessarily in winning.”
He encouraged the athletes to recognise the achievement of simply making it to the finals.
“The fact that you are here competing means that you are all winners,” Hunte said.
He also urged the young competitors to support one another and help ensure the event remained incident-free.
(SB)
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