By FRED STURRUP, NG Associate Editor, frederick@nasguard.com, frobertsturrup@gmail.com

A new forum has been put in place to focus particularly on the sports icons of the Caribbean. The brainchild of Al Hamilton, a Jamaican media personality who lives in Great Britain, the Caribbean Awards Sports Icons (CASI) will be launched this coming November 7 at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.

It is intended that the affair will move to a different Caribbean venue each year. Talks centered around The Bahamas hosting the event in 2009 have already started.

"The overall objective of CASI is to ensure that the Caribbean's rich sporting legacy is not left in the hands of others and that Caribbean nationals are entrusted with the responsibility for lasting monuments in the global arena of sports. The indications are that the Caribbean Awards Sports Icons will not only enable the Caribbean sports personalities involved to be highlighted in the most positive way in the global arena, but will indirectly generate numerous related micro-organizations and business opportunities as well as enhance the Caribbean's tourism potential worldwide. The outstanding and invaluable contribution of Caribbean athletes to the Modern Olympics and the various world championships is beyond dispute. The support of regional governments and corporate entities is therefore vital to the highlighting and preservation of this legacy," said Hamilton when we spoke recently.

The awards evolved from numerous conversations with athletes and sports administrators of the Caribbean who felt that indeed there was an "honors' void that needed to filled."

The initial categories from which honorees will come from include: athletics, basketball, boxing, cricket, football (soccer), cycling, swimming, netball, tennis, table tennis, administration, 'special' and the physically challenged athletes. According to Hamilton, they will be selected the nominees will be drawn from the entire Caribbean region. They will be selected on the basis of performances at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and regional competitions.

Hamilton has made certain that there will be little ground for disputes regarding the voting process.

"The basic procedure will have regional sports journalists submitting their nominees to the secretariat which will be responsible for the preparation of the final list of nominees as well as the selection of 'awardees'," said Hamilton. And, "to ensure transparency and credibility, representatives from regional national Olympic committees as well as an international monitor will oversee the proceedings. The general public while not being able to vote, will have the opportunity to participate through an SMS texting system with prizes being awarded to those who accurately predict the full list of 'awardees'," added Hamilton.

I salute this fine son of the Caribbean soil.

CASI is a wonderful initiative that will go a long way in properly recording certain special sports achievements and highlighting the stalwarts who have been making the contributions over the years. The networking that will come about because of CASI will bring the Caribbean sports leaders together like never before. The head office will be in Jamaica but helping with the overall program will be CASI regional offices throughout the Caribbean.

Sports leaders, supporters and governments from the Caribbean are challenged to respond positively to CASI and its noble objectives.

"Although the contribution of the Caribbean to the development and refinement of world sports has been acknowledged in various ways and on a variety of pro-disciplinary platforms, the true dimension of the role and impact of the Caribbean on global sports has never really been fully captured and expressed in any formal celebratory fashion, as has now been conceived under the Caribbean Awards Sports Icons banner.

"Undoubtedly, with the full support of Caribbean governments, the corporate sectors and private sports-loving individuals, this annual event promises to evolve into the very apogee of recognition for excellence in every conceivable sporting discipline among Caribbean sportswomen and men," concluded Hamilton.

He is to be applauded. Hopefully, the Caribbean Awards Sports Icons will become one of the region's great signature events.