National Summer Camps Sports Day 2025

Hundreds of campers took part in the annual National Summer Camps games at the Usain Bolt Complex on Wednesday, August 20th, 2025. The games were officially declared open by Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, the Honourable Charles Griffith, M.P.

In his address, the Minister disclosed that the various zones would be competing for the O’Brien Smith Challenge Trophy in memory of the former Youth Development Programme, Senior Youth Commissioner, who died last year. “One of the signature things that’s happening today is that we are keeping the legacy of one of our youth officers alive by putting this National Summer Camp Challenge Trophy in the name of O’Brien Smith,” Mr. Griffith revealed.

Minister Griffith says the trophy shows the value the Ministry attaches to its youth workers who are an integral part of the process. He also lauded the staff of the Ministry for pulling together the games, noting that “a lot of planning went into preparing the process of the National Summer Camps 2025.”

The Youth Minister says this year there were in excess of 3000 campers at some 47 National Summer Camps, including one for persons with disabilities, a cultural arts programme that spanned 13 camps, a digital media film camp, an employability camp and an entrepreneurship camp. He added that under the National Sports Council summer camps, there were some two dozen sporting disciplines offered.

Principal Youth Development Officer, Andrea Titus lauded the partnership with UNICEF under the theme ‘Voices of Peace, Action of Change.’ She contended that “the games are more than about competition; [suggesting] it’s about teamwork, discipline and unity and shaping a brighter future for our youth”. Mrs. Titus encouraged fair play and the celebration of the talent of all the athletes on show during the day.

Social and Behavioural Change Communications Specialist at UNICEF, Dr Lisa Mc Clean-Trotman lauded the partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, noting that it dates back several decades.

At the end of the games the Eastern Zone emerged victorious with 407 points, followed by the Northern Zone which amassed 393 points, third was the Southern Zone with 316 points and fourth was the Central Zone with 306 points.

Dekasia Waithe copped the Victrix Ludorum Prize, whilst Briandre Browne won the Victor Ludorum award.