Barbados’ push to elevate its homegrown sport of road tennis has gained new momentum, with Sports Minister Charles Griffith doubling down on calls for broader participation across the island’s schools and local communities. The minister made his remarks during an official ceremony Tuesday at The Lodge School, where his ministry donated a full set of road tennis equipment – including rackets and balls – to the institution, delivered in partnership with the Community Independent Secretariat.
Griffith emphasized that the donation is far more than a simple gift of sporting gear: it is a core part of the government’s broader strategy to grow road tennis both domestically and on the international stage. Breaking new ground for the sport’s global outreach, the minister revealed that a Barbadian delegation will soon travel to the United Kingdom to put the unique indigenous sport on display for international audiences. He told students at The Lodge School that the upcoming tour, and future international exhibitions planned for other countries, will include young local players, opening up once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for the island’s youth to represent their country abroad.
“I’m hoping that this new court will be buzzing with activity before school, during lunch breaks and after classes, with students picking up rackets and testing their skills at road tennis,” Griffith said. “Our goal is to get as many schools across Barbados involved in this growing movement as possible.”
Beyond schools, Griffith also extended an invitation to community groups across the country to partner with his ministry to expand access to the sport. Highlighting road tennis as an affordable, accessible activity that supports long-term physical fitness, he noted that the ministry is ready to construct new public courts in any neighborhood that requests them, removing barriers to entry for communities eager to adopt the sport.
After the official presentation, The Lodge School marked the occasion with an exhibition match between Principal Stephen Jackman and Board of Management Chairman Henry Inniss, who praised the donation as extremely timely for the school’s growing road tennis program. Inniss explained that the school has recently signed on to support a new inter-school road tennis competition set to launch this coming September, and the new equipment could not have arrived at a better moment to help the school’s players prepare for the tournament. Following the minister’s lead, the school’s Parent-Teacher Association also announced a separate donation of additional road tennis equipment during the event, a move Inniss said further strengthens the school’s ability to grow participation ahead of the September tournament.