Sport is the Catalyst

by Aimee Maggiacomo SportWORKS officer | Anguilla on May 3, 2013

It has been a while since we last spoke. It is really crazy how quickly time has gone by. And if science could prove this, I would say the time goes by faster in Anguilla, but I know that there are still 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour and so on and so forth. Therefore the only valid explanation is that time really does fly when you are having fun.

Before writing this blog that you are currently reading I had started several different blog posts; about the day-to-day, about the new things in my life, about my trip to St. Maarten, and there were a couple other subjects. However, after some further thought I have chosen to focus on something else entirely different for this blog post.

Over my past few months here I have been fortunate enough to be able to provide a helping hand at several different sporting events in a variety of different roles. Assisting with coaching, helping with BBQs and concession sales (I make a mean Johnny Cake, you can ask anyone), officiating and first aid. However, in all these situations someone always make sure I am fed, have enough to drink, and someone drives me home; I get very well taken care of and they do not shy away from showing their gratitude. However, little do they know, they are helping me by providing an opportunity to get involved. Situations such as this are a great way to meet new people and engage with the community — all contributing to helping me feel like one of the family here.

My time in Anguilla is really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Although I am here to work, I will never get to fully reciprocate what this opportunity has and will continue to provide; the work, life, and cultural experiences are truly invaluable. Even the times where I am making Johnny Cakes with the lovely volunteers of the Athletic Association, in those moments, I am receiving far more than I can give in return.

There are many moments throughout the week where I just stop and think, “Pinch me, is this real?” — is this really the view I get to see every day, are these really the people I am fortunate enough to work with, are these really the places I get to visit… And by no means is this suppose to sound boastful, but to express the overwhelming amount of thankfulness that stems from this experience. Moments like this are really your driving force to do as much as you can, work as hard as you can and give as much as you can. Although it really is a funny situation, because it always feels like an unbalanced relationship. But you do as much can and remember to pay it forward with every opportunity that is available.

Now, you may be asking what is the point of all this? Well this brings me to my main point, my thesis of this blog post rather, how did I get to this place? How have I been able to experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? How has the unimaginable now become part of my new normal? And the only answer to this is simply because of sport. Sport is the reason I am here. Yes, sport is what my work is focused on but sport is what allowed me to be in the position I am right now in the first place. Further bringing me to my point, sport is the catalyst for the once-in-the-lifetime opportunities, where the unimaginable becomes a reality and the way in which sport provides these opportunities seems almost limitless.

I think back to March when athletes on the island spoke to the eight primary schools about what it is like being a Commonwealth athlete, their experiences at the Games, and what the Games have meant to them. I recall them saying that it was something like they have never experienced, an experience that cannot be replicated and a time in their lives that they will always remember. They also reflected on what it meant to prepare for the Games; being disciplined, staying focus, making goals… Most of the athletes left the students with a few lessons to take away from their speeches; continue to work hard, keep sport close to their lives, and always stay focused on your dreams.

One thing that resonated for me from their words was the emphasis on what athletics and cycling has brought to their lives, what it has taught them, what it has allowed them to experience, the people they have met, the places they have been, the venues they have competed in, and ultimately the dreams that were made their reality.

After almost four months of being in Anguilla I have had some time to reflect on how something that seemed like a crazy idea has become my everyday life.  I have also been able to see sport participated in a different culture and try to best orientate myself in a new sport system. As I try to absorb all these experiences and take in all I can, I now find myself taking some time to reflect.

Now my job is an amazing and enjoyable experience, but of course there will be times of frustration and where you may feel challenged, but it is at those times that you think about why you are here, how you ended up here and it all comes back to sport. Why do all the volunteers for the NSOs on the island put in so many hours to help their young athletes succeed, why do the athletes spend their evenings at the park in Anguilla running around the field, why do the school children put in countless hours training after school or at 7am on a Saturday morning…

We do all this to allow sport to create the once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and to make the unimaginable our new normal.

And because of this sport will make us work harder; push ourselves to be the best that we can be.

And when you eventually take the time to reflect, you will realize that time has sped by. Whether it is four months down road or years later, sport really does make this statement stand true, “Time flies when you are having fun.”

So in attempt to try and bring this reflection into one cohesive thought I will leave you with this last thought on my mind; sport is a timeless driving force that makes the unimaginable our new reality.

Thanks for listening and letting me take some time to reflect!

Next time…more about my work life, what St. Maarten is like and so much more!