The debate continues about netball making it to the Olympics. Although a reported 20 million women play netball in over 70 countries it still hasn't made it to the Olympics and why should it - to give Australia or New Zealand a sure Olympic goal medal?
I have been involved in netball for the last 25 years and the same teams dominate the top, they are serious barriers at all levels not just in terms of actually physical standard of play but in the rules of the games and its officiating. I look on and have a great belly laugh when I read of the umpiring problems happening down under.
We in the Caribbean have just 4 international umpires, two men from Jamaica, Dalton and Chris, and two ladies, one from Barbados, Marion, and the other from Trinidad and Tobago Anne Marie. The region has not had another umpire qualified in almost five years. How so?
I do not know what the criteria is for becoming an Olympic sport , maybe when I have some time I will explore this however in terms of netball I can write the script for future Olympic Games once we are approved. Six teams qualify for Olympics based on the new seeding developed by those countries who the format benefits. The little old Caribbean countries cannot afford to travel to some tournaments so despite their skill they remain unseeded. The Olympic Games teams on every occasion will thus be Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa, maybe on occasion Papua New Guinea, Cook Island, Fiji and Samoa. And maybe on the odd occasion a Malawi, Barbados or Trinidad might sneak in.
Anyway, if you feel strongly about netball being an Olympic Sport join the Face Book group and agitate.
