More than 2,000 young participants across Barbados have wrapped up the 2026 National Summer Camp Programme, closing out weeks of skills-building and community-focused activities with the annual Sports for Peace Track and Field Finals held Wednesday at the iconic Usain Bolt Complex. The one-day championship event brought together the most promising young athletes who advanced through the summer camp’s regional phases, turning the venue into a hub of energetic competition, collaborative spirit, and cross-community connection that aligned with the programme’s core mission: building peaceful, inclusive societies for Barbados’ next generation.
The National Summer Camp Programme, run in partnership between UNICEF’s Eastern Caribbean office and Barbados’ Division of Youth Affairs, centers this year’s activities around a broader island-wide anti-violence campaign. Beyond athletic training, the summer initiative was designed to equip participating youth with life and social skills that translate far beyond the running track and playing field.
Speaking at the opening of the finals, Shorat Orazov, Acting Deputy Representative of UNICEF Eastern Caribbean, highlighted that the championship event marked the official end of months of programming that prioritized youth development over competition. “I’m so pleased to join you today as we celebrate National Summer Camp Sports 2026, the culmination of this year’s anti-violence campaign and a wonderful demonstration of the energy, talent, and potential of Barbados’ young people,” Orazov told the gathered crowd of athletes, coaches, and spectators.
Over the course of the summer, Orazov explained, camp participants took part in a range of structured activities that balanced recreational fun with intentional skill-building. Young people engaged in workshops and team challenges that helped them cultivate core competencies including clear communication, collaborative problem-solving, empathetic listening, emotional self-regulation, and peaceful conflict resolution. These skills, he emphasized, are not just useful for the camp setting: they create lasting benefits for youth across every area of their daily lives, from classrooms to family homes to neighborhood communities, while laying the groundwork for them to grow into compassionate, effective leaders in the future.
Cleviston Hunte, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Division of Youth Affairs, echoed the event’s focus on sportsmanship over winning, urging the young finalists to center the joy of participation rather than chasing top placements. “It’s a lovely day for track and field,” Hunte said. “I ask you to remember one thing as we go through this day. The joy of this day is in competing and not necessarily in winning.”
Hunte reminded every athlete that qualifying for the national finals itself is a significant achievement, noting that every participant who stepped onto the track that day had already earned recognition for their hard work and commitment. “The fact that you are here competing means that you are all winners,” he said. He also called on competitors to uphold the event’s values of mutual respect and solidarity, urging them to cheer on their peers and help keep the day safe, respectful, and incident-free for all in attendance.