Hundreds of young sportsmen and women assembled at the National Stadium yesterday in anticipation of the start of the National Sports Council’s (NSC) 25th annual summer camp.The camp, which caters to children ages 8 to 16, will run for six weeks at different locations across the island according to the sporting discipline chosen. Camp coordinator Adrian Donovan made it clear that while sport was the main focus of the camp, the NSC had a special duty to Barbados. “We have a social responsibility, so we ensure the camp is well organised and the kids are in a safe learning environment,” he said.Donovan also stressed the role of the sponsors in furthering the camp’s success. This year, Scotiabank and Sagicor, which have been linked with the camp from its inception, have continued to lend their support. LIME has also come on board for the first time. All three sponsors indicated their willingness to support any cause that was in the interest of the nation’s youth.Marcelle Greenidge, manager of public relations and communications at Scotiabank, told the campers and directors of the bank’s intention to “support the development of the young and emerging athletes and other leaders in Barbados”.She reassured those present of Scotiabank’s future commitment to such community projects, “particularly in these times when the moral fabric of our society is under severe pressure”.Adrian King, agency manager of Sagicor Life Inc., said the company’s sponsorship was essential to this camp as the “beneficiaries of our sponsorship are the young people of Barbados”. King encouraged the campers to make “their contribution to build a better nation”.First-time sponsor LIME’s chief operating officer, Ricky Went, said that LIME was “driven by a passion to facilitate the development of our youth”. “We want to join with the established sponsors to make this year’s programme the best,” Went said.Many fun opportunities will be made available to the campers. They will have a chance to tour places of interest, in addition to taking a cruise on the MV Harbour Master. Registration remains open until Saturday.(FM)
