But youths still flock to sports camp
Despite the disappointment in Manchester, not all is glum in the sporting world. The kids at one Belize City summer camp are nothing if not enthusiastic about the future.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Fourteen years after he pioneered the idea of a summer sports camp, Curlin King still finds the time to keep Belize City children busy during their school break. Annually, King solicits donations from the business community to host a session for boys and girls who would ordinarily not have anything to do this time of the year.
Curlin King, Camp Co-ordinator
“The bottom line is that children want to get something done, they want to get out and do something. And track and field, athletics, we could facilitate a lot of children in a lot of different type of events.”
Despite the heat of the day, the children still had the energy to high jump and run, no matter what the distance.
Sixteen-year-old Clarencia Jones has been a regular camp participant. Jones, who is a two-time pole vault champion on the Belize Track and Field Team, says the event helps to develop her overall skills.
Clarencia Jones, 16 years old
“It trains us lot about running, high jump, triple, different events for track.”
Jacqueline Woods
“How long have you been attending Mr. King’s camp?”
Clarencia Jones
“From when I was small.”
However, Jones was not the only inspiration on the field. Those children, who may have thought of giving up, only had to look at their one legged friend Noel Young for some encouragement. Young, an amputee, recently returned from the United States after being fitted with a prosthetic leg. Today, however, Young decided to leave his new leg at home, saying it would simply get in his way.
It’s that kind of personal dedication and achievement that has kept King committed to the camp.
Curlin King
“Because every year, I would say, I don’t think I’m gonna do it this year, then the kids would meet me when I’m on the street and say, Mr. King, you wah have camp the year? We look forward to wi camp yuh know. And this is what really spurs the moment on, and then from there I start to get out there and start to beg my friends and things for gifts and stuff for the children and to try and help sponsor the programme. And inevitable we end up with a programme going for about fourteen on fifteen years now.”
This year close to a hundred children are taking part. If you would like your child to join in the fun, you just need to show up at the Rogers Stadium around 10:30 in the mornings and register your child. Reporting for News 5, Jacqueline Woods.
The camp comes to a close on August twenty-fifth.
