Former Deputy Prime Minister and national team standout Cynthia 'Mother' Pratt is calling for more recognition of past athletes, especially those who competed in team sports.
At the upcoming Women in Sports Banquet, set for Saturday, November 9 at the Atlantis Resort, Pratt said she will be hitting the point once again, hoping to get the wheels turning on the movement. Pratt, an outstanding athlete and coach in her heyday, will receive a special honor at the banquet, which will be held under the theme "Celebrating the Success of Women in Sports". Even though a number of women, who have dedicated their lives to the building of sports in the country, will be honored that night, Pratt said more needs to be done to recognize their accomplishments.
"First of all, I want to speak on behalf of the women, not so much myself," said Pratt. "The reason for that is, I personally feel that I am always in the limelight. I am always honored one reason or the other because I am involved in so many things, but these women have carried the banner for this country on their shoulders. Many of them, their names have never been mentioned, at that time but nothing after that. You don't see them on billboards; you don't see their pictures anywhere. I feel that they all deserve to be recognized. I am talking about the softball team now. They are deserving of being recognized among the others at the airport.
"The women's softball team was the first medal won internationally by women in this country. That was in 1976 when they won a gold medal in Belize, Central America. I was a part of that team, and the bronze medal winning team in 1981, in California. They have contributed significantly over the years. I think that this recognition is very timely and really long overdue. I am grateful that the organizations have remembered. I raised it on the floor of Parliament and I raised it in various environments. I think that we have to consider all who are elite athletes because they were elite athletes as well."
Special honors will also go to sports philanthropist Betty Cole, former national team player in volleyball Cora Hepburn, who is the chairperson of the women and sports commission in the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC), and Betty Kelly-Kenning
A number of top female athletes, past and present, are listed among the other 40 women to be honored in the Honoree Awards.
Athletes such as Laverne Eve, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Pauline Davis-Thompson, Shonell Ferguson, Waltiea Rolle, Linda Woodside, Hattie Moxey, Jackie Conyers, Tonique Williams, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Lori Lowe, Florence Rolle, Yolett McPhee-McCuin and a few others are in the Honoree division. The administrators list includes Monique Leary, Kim Rolle, Thora Sweeting, Vicky Knowles, Jeannie Minus, Judy Hamilton, Dianne Woodside, Jenny Isaacs-Dotson, Winnie Russell, Mynez Cargill-Sherman, Edna Forbes, Oria Wood, Jennifer 'Jann' Mortimer and Laurie Lightfoot.
Pratt said: "When you look at the role of a woman, the sacrifices are much more than a man. They are wives, mothers who have to deal with family and children. They have to also work, and of course train to become world-class athletes. Yes the man has to train as well, but he does not have the kind of responsibilities as a woman in the home. You have to juggle your daily routine with preparing your children for school, finding food, cooking and taking care of your husband, and all of the domestic work that goes along with it, and still go out and train to be world-class.
"Sports is more than a game. It helps to build character. I am proud to be a Bahamian and proud to be among these women who have contributed to the building of this country. I have everything in my head. I have lived it and want to share it with others, but more needs to be done."
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