Source: guardian.co.tt
Gregory Lewis fondly called “Georgie”, age 94 years, a member of T&T’s historic London 1948Olympic team, passed away last Thursday and will be buried today. I often wonder why is it that our pioneers and history makers and their exploits, in the main, go unrecorded, undocumented and unappreciated.
Lewis represented T&T at a time when the concept of elite athlete assistance and Olympic solidarity preparation assistance was not a consideration or a thought. Lewis and his generation understood the true meaning of patriotism and nation hood. The troubles he faced to get to London are well known to his family and friends. Georgie Lewis and his generation provide not only sport but the country on a whole with important and vital lessons. For all the advances made by the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) in good governance, sport administration, sport marketing, programme development, transparency and accountability. Notwithstanding the creativity and innovation that is now part and parcel of the TTOC operations and processes.
The truth of the matter is that the TTOC remains behind the eight ball, as it were, when it comes to the matter of T&T Olympic history. In the battle for funding, the past is not as pressing as current realties. The year 1948, is a landmark occasion. Those who contributed in such a compelling and profound way to this country’s Olympic movement deserve recognition and acknowledgement. Much water it can be said has gone under the bridge. The TTOC has been proactive in advocating for support and assistance for contemporary elite athletes. What have we done for the Olympic pioneers? The national Olympic committee is the guardian of the Olympic movement here in T&T. In this regard it has a broad remit, role and responsibility when it comes to matters Olympic. This is not to suggest that there are easy answers or that the issue has not received consideration, far from it. Moreover, any attempt to finance archives and museums are viewed as surplus to requirements in the prism of now. Funding a T&T Olympic archival and museum project is a formidable undertaking.
Let’s be honest given the prevailing culture history is an inconvenience. We compete with history. It is not seen as fundamental to our nation’s DNA. History for many is an intangible-abstract and esoteric- An exercise in nonsensical nostalgia. Death serves as a reminder of our neglect. The story is the same in every aspect of national life-culture, literature, education, medicine, media, politics, and art. You name it there is a treasure trove of lessons, memories and anecdotes that infuse colour, substance, purpose, meaning, credence and valence to our existence as a nation. We are bombarded daily by news of heinous criminal acts, obnoxious conduct and unethical behaviour across the spectrum of national life.
Our only saving grace may very well be a reflection on earlier times. When representing your country came from the heart and not from the pocket. Mind you it is not only the good things. Invaluable are the lessons to be gained from the mistakes made.
Sadly, the arrogance that fuels our lack of respect for history may very well be the root cause of the selfishness, lack of care, class, decorum and dignity that corrodes and erodes our current quality of life.
National life, community life, family life, business life, club life, sporting life and organisational life are all defined by the passing of the baton. Time is not on our side. We cannot continue to allow our pioneers and history makers die with so much stored in their hearts and minds. Soon we will wake up and discover that all there is left to celebrate is recent history.
Brian Lewis is the honorary secretary general of the T&T Olympic Committee-www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.