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January 2014
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One might not readily connect a conference titled Science, Higher Education and Business with sport, but that’s probably because such a link has never really been established in these parts. The full name of the conference spells it out: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Sports Studies, Research and Development; and it was held from January 15 to 18 at the St Augustine campus of The UWI. Jointly arranged by The UWI and First Citizens Sports Foundation, the conference was designed to initiate discourse on both the development of sports and the use of sport for development. The opening ceremony was addressed by Professor Emeritus Jay Coakley, of the University of Colorado, who spoke on the conference theme. The opening ceremony, held at the Hyatt Regency, was packed, and the inaugural UWI Award for Excellence in the Scholarship of Sport was presented to Dr Basil Ince. The following is the citation for Dr Ince’s award. Dr Basil Andre Ince is a renowned personality in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. He remains one who has contributed to many spheres of our history when we reflect on the development of this Republic. He has served as a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of International Relations at The UWI, St. Augustine, for ten years. He was also a former Minister of External Affairs and former High Commissioner to the Court of St James. However, one of his most profound contributions to the nation’s development has been his remarkable performance in the field of Caribbean sport. He has distinguished himself as an exceptional sportsman, a sports administrator and a scholar in this arena. Dr Ince is known for his athletic prowess, winning gold and silver medals in the 400m and 4x400m relays respectively at the Pan American Games in 1959. His willingness to make a difference in the athletic realm was evident when he was elected President of the National Association of Amateur Athletes of Trinidad and Tobago in 1976. In that milestone year, he also served as the Manager of the Trinidad and Tobago Track Team for the Olympic Games in Montreal, the team for which Hasely Crawford won gold in the 100m race. Trinidad and Tobago has also acknowledged his contribution to sport when he was appointed as Minister of Sport, Culture and Youth Affairs. In 1985, Dr Ince was among the few national sport personalities inducted into the West Indian Tobacco Sports Foundation Hall of Fame.
He recognised that Trinidad and Tobago, and by extension the Caribbean, had limited publications on sport and its history and development. He thus married his love for academia and sport history by publishing articles on these subjects, including “From sideline to frontline: The Rising Tide of Trinidad and Tobago’s Women Athletes”, and “Trinidad and Tobago in London, Half Full and Half Empty” in the “Trinidad and Tobago Review,” “Sprinter for All Seasons” in “Sport Express”, and “West Indian Athletes in North America” and “West Indian Athletes in Britain,” two chapters in the book “Enterprise of the Indies.” Dr Ince also focused on highlighting the achievements of athletes from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, not only through research, but also meticulous and insightful documentation. As such, he has produced books which delve into the records and experiences of Trinidadian athletes within the Olympic Movement. The first book, “Trinidad and Tobago at the Olympic Games: From Rodney Wilkes to George Bovell III,” was published in 2005 and “Olympian: 75 years of Trinidad and Tobago in Olympic Sport 1934-2010” followed six years later. His latest book, “Black Meteors: The Caribbean in International Track and Field,” released in 2012, showcases Caribbean athletes and their quest in pushing the region as a dominant contender in many world class track and field events. Based on the breadth and depth of his scholarly research, and outstanding achievements in the field, The University of The West Indies, in collaboration with the First Citizens Sports Foundation, is pleased to offer its inaugural UWI Award for Excellence in the Scholarship of Sport to Dr Basil Andre Ince. |
Although another person may have been content with such accolades, Dr Ince was intent on continuing to make a difference in sport, and thereafter focused on developing sport awareness through academia.