THE EDITOR, Sir:

Boys and Girls' Champs has grown into a must-see calendar event for people from all over the world. I would hazard a guess that if we had stadium seating of 100,000, it would be filled to capacity each year.

The 2013 show was particularly spectacular with the numerous record-breaking events on track and in the field. This augurs well for our young athletes' future in the international arena. It is clear that Jamaica will continue to be a force to reckon with at world games for some time to come.

It would be foolhardy of anyone to believe that all these successes happen by chance. Let us never forget the decision to establish the G.C. Foster College of Physical Education and Sports in the late 1970s. It was here that the nation was able to start the serious development of teachers and coaches in the various sport disciplines, who would eventually go into the field to spot and nurture the young talents we now celebrate.

WE CAN DO IT!

What all this is saying to me is that we can do it! We have the capacity for excellence. Jamaicans are legendary for immigrating to foreign lands and outperforming their counterparts in virtually any field we choose. Why, oh, why can't we exhibit the same excellence in areas of our lives outside of sports in Jamaica?

We have consistently and systematically undereducated our people, appear incapable of keeping criminal activity from overtaking us, displayed an incredible incapacity for keeping the country clean, consistently ride roughshod over the environment, can't seem to be able to find the formula to feed ourselves and rely less on imported food, exhibit an unusual penchant for injustice, while having such an insatiable appetite for corruption.

I often wonder if the reason we perform so well in sports and culture is because they are not really contaminated by our politics.

While we congratulate ISSA and all the wonderful athletes, coaches and administrators and, indeed, the incredible work over the years of G.C. Foster, it remains my dream that one day soon we will be able to translate some of our successes on the field of sports and culture into all areas of national life. Jamaica deserves this.

CARL BLISS

cabliss@flowja.com