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If you listen to the man in the street, and especially those of the older generation, Jamaicans should be involved in only a few sports, those are the ones which the government and the sponsor should support, and, not necessarily in order, they are football, cricket, track and field, and netball.

That, however, is nonsense.

Apart from the fact that common sense will dictate, based on popularity and performance, where the emphasis should be placed, sport is sport, and just as every man has a right to live his life the way he wants to, and to be afforded equal opportunities to grow, so does he has a right to participate in the sport of his choice, and if deserving of it, to enjoy equal support - especially from the public purse.

Cricket, for example, was the sport of the people in years gone by, it was the sport which, through the West Indies team, brought pride and joy to the people, and it was the sport which enjoyed the greatest support.

Over the years, however, sports like track and field, and netball have challenged cricket's position in the society - to the point where today, football among the boys and netball among the girls boast a participation and a spectacular support which is the envy of good old cricket.

In spite of those who do not like it - those, for example, who believe that cricket is still special and should be treated as such, that is the reality of the situation, and nothing is wrong with it. In fact, those who love sport, those who believe in the importance of sport to the development of young people, those who believe in growth, and those who believe in the freedom of expression should have no problem with it.

The more who need, the less will each get, but although they will obviously get less than they used to, who really believe what they have always talked about the value of sport to a society like this should really be happy. For them it should be the more, the happier regardless of what they play.

In the past, certain sports, what Jamaicans call minor sports, and those who played them were generally ignored - regardless of their skill and their potential. The time has come for that to change.

Sport is sport, it takes skill and dedication to be the best in any one, young Jamaicans have always been encouraged to be the best they can be in whatever they chose to do, and regardless of what he or she plays, any Jamaican who is blessed with the talent to achieve, who is dedicated, and who thrives for excellence should be encouraged, in every respect, in the pursuit of excellence.

Cyclist David Weller, 1980 Olympic bronze medallist, recently told the gathering at the Carreras Sports Foundation awards ceremony about the problems he had getting support to prepare himself, swimmer Andrew Phillips, for example was treated, despite his potential to have been among the world's best, like a poor relation in Jamaica's sports, and triathlete Iona Wynter, for example, should not suffer the same fate.

There is nothing as satisfying as fulfilling one's potential - as realising one's dream, there is nothing as frustrating as being ignored, and in dealing with the country's talented and dedicated sportsmen and sportswomen, Jamaicans, especially those with the resources to help, should remember that.

They should also remember the Reggae Boys.

Without the backing of a government which, according to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson when he encouraged the Sports Development Foundation to assist the World Cup programme, believed that young Jamaicans who dream should be given every opportunity to fulfil that dream, without the backing of the private sector, France '98 would never have happened.

Every Jamaican, once he or she is good enough and is committed, deserves that chance.