The Over 40 basketball League will be launched this weekend. Photo: VINO/File

VI Sport 4 Life President, Mr Karl Scatliffe is hopeful for an exciting series of tournaments that will eventually cover all sports, but starts this weekend with Basketball and Netball. Photo: Provided

The organization is the brainchild of Karl Scatliffe who has a passion for health, sports and fitness, which according to him, “are all imperative to one’s health and well-being. Human resources are the most valuable asset of a nation and as such a healthy population means a healthy, working and developing nation.”

On travels abroad, Scatliffe became aware of a growing trend in various sports to give longevity and improve the fitness of the maturing athletes and sportsmen/women that once graced the courts, fields, tracks and arenas.

Scatliffe then decided that the Virgin Islands needed such initiatives and that there were many talented individuals in the territory that had given up on competitive sports too early or too easily and that needed to be addressed.

The idea then became a plan and letters were sent to each of the territory’s Sports Associations or Federations to gain the necessary sanctions. Although surprised by the negative reactions of some, Scatliffe ploughed ahead and this coming weekend, after a series of warm up matches in Virgin Gorda, basketball will become the first Over 40 League, closely followed by netball.

“Basketball and netball are ready and go on stream Friday. It will last for about six weeks and then followed by playoffs, championships and other tournaments,” Commented Scatliffe.

The opening ceremony will be held at the Save the Seed Energy Centre at 7 P.M. and then the games will take place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 P.M.

“Some of the Over 40’s Basketball teams have been playing over in Virgin Gorda and will slip seamlessly into the league. Teams such as the “A’s”, Disciples, the North Side Surfers, the Whalers, the Mystics, the Elite Flyers and the Hurricanes will form part of what is hoped to be an eight or ten team league,” noted Scatliffe.

Netball is a huge sport across the Caribbean and Scatliffe hopes the league will act as a catalyst for the sport to be rekindled here in the Virgin Islands. “I’m hoping netball revives itself, once we get it started hopefully the younger ones will come back to the sport and it will grow to be popular here again.”

Other sports won’t be left out and will be built into plans for 2014. Football, cricket and softball are target areas for expansion as well as track. “Come January with a whole year of events that lasts until December. No sport will be left out and we may even have a one day special track meet,” said Scatliffe.

Older folks are actively involved around the globe and Scatliffe hopes that eventually teams from the United States will be encouraged to visit the VI to take part in competitions. ”Being able to see other teams in others countries enthused me and they all seemed keen to come and participate once we get organized,” he said. “It would be good to take it to another level and keep older athletes active longer.”

The Mission Statement of VI Sports 4 Life is to provide the means, expertise, motivation, and atmosphere that will enable persons over the age of 40 the ability to participate in various sporting competitions and enable them to achieve individual fitness goals and simply feel better about themselves thereby fostering community togetherness in a positive atmosphere.