Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the reality that no local sports have been held since March 2020, there will be no award ceremony for the second year in a row.
The traditional event will not be held this year, according to Sports Minister Daryll Matthew, who analysed that it would be unfair to athletes that have not engaged in sports since 2020.
“The individuals that would have played internationally is a little number, so you essentially would have had maybe five persons,” Leon ‘Kuma’ Rodney, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA), said of the cancellation.
He clarified that although just stating “sportsperson of the year” is OK, it is vital to keep in mind that there are other categories also, such as the administrator of the year, coach of the year, and much more.
He debated that, ” People must be given a fair chance to participate. If it’s enough to say yeah, we’ll offer them some degree of recognition, that’s great, but I think I’d have to agree that because everything was under lockdown.”
“I don’t mind if it’s delayed or postponed until sports can reopen and everyone has a fair chance,” Rodney ended by saying.
