Mrs. Joy Adamson, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony of the 28th Caribbean Youth Table Tennis Championship.

Barbadian and regional sportsmen and women told to fully embrace the educational opportunities that sports can unlock for them.

These sentiments from Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Mrs. Joy Adamson, whilst delivering the feature address at the opening ceremony of the 28th Caribbean Youth Table Tennis Championship at the Wildey Gymnasium.

Mrs. Adamson said that scholarships to universities in North America and the UK await many of our young athletes, while she added that with the support of the region’s Ministries of Education, Caribbean people “must continue to create clear pathways that link athletic talent with academic success and personal growth”.

Noting that “sport is a catalyst for development, peace, and upward mobility, that instills discipline, builds confidence, and unites communities”, the senior public officer told the competitors that “while each match will have a winner and a runner-up, the real victory lies in the friendships made, the values learned, and the dreams pursued”.

   

Stating that Barbados is proud to host this prestigious tournament once again, having previously welcomed the region’s best in 2005, 2009 and most recently in 2019, Adamson noted that on every occasion the island has opened its arms to the spirit of competition, camaraderie and youth excellence—and this year will be no different.

 

“This championship is more than just a gathering of talented young athletes; it serves as a critical stepping stone on the international stage. This year, it doubles as a qualification event for not one, but two major regional competitions, the Pan American Youth Championship, which will be held in Rosario, Argentina from August 24th to 31st, 2025 and the Junior Pan American Games, taking place in Asuncion, Paraguay, from August 9th to 23rd, 2025.”

 

PS Adamson says these opportunities put our athletes one step closer to the Olympic Games, the ultimate arena for athletic excellence, noting that for many players “this could very well be the beginning of a journey toward the world’s greatest sporting stage.”

The April 20th to 26th, 2025 tournament brings together 112 athletes from 11 Caribbean nations: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and the host nation, Barbados.

In highlighting Barbados’ history with the sport, Mrs. Adamson stated that table tennis has been played in Barbados for over 50 years and remains deeply rooted in our schools, communities and among our differently abled athletes. She revealed that at the 2023 National Sports Awards, the National Sports Council recognised a differently-abled table tennis athlete with a Special Award, reinforcing Barbados’ commitment to inclusivity in sport.

Lauding the discipline of table tennis as more than a game, the Permanent Secretary contended that “it’s a powerful tool for physical development and mental sharpness, improving hand-eye coordination and can be played recreationally, professionally, or as a training tool for other sports”. Supporting this claim, she referred to West Indies cricketing icon Brian Lara, who credited table tennis with sharpening the skills that made him a master batsman.

“To all the athletes your journey doesn’t end with this tournament—it only begins. Give it your all. Play with heart, with honour and with hope. You are not just playing for medals—you are playing for your future and for the future of Caribbean sport,” Mrs Adamson posited, adding that “in the end, sports will win, table tennis will win, and you will win—through effort, resilience, and unity”.