Combat sports, chess, pools, darts, paintball, surfing, racecars, BMX, vehicular audio, and video games all stood side-by-side on Saturday evening, November 1, at Duty Free Pointe Seraphine, as the Ministry of Youth Development & Sports officially launched the 2025–2026 Alternative Sports Season.
Running through March, the season aims to spotlight and elevate non-traditional sports – those with lower profiles, less formal organisation, or often relegated to the margins, such as gaming, chess, or darts.
Saturday’s launch featured remarks from Minister for Youth Development & Sports, Kenson Casimir, and Invest Saint Lucia chairman, Lyndon Arnold. Among the evening’s highlights was the display of vehicles, including the Invest Saint Lucia Toyota Supra MK4, which has taken regional drag racing by storm over the past two years, remaining unbeaten in Antigua & Barbuda.
Also present at Pointe Seraphine were national federations for mixed martial arts, chess, pools, esports (featuring Speed & Showdowns by Team Identified), paintball, and surfing. Each hosted interactive booths, giving scores of excited patrons the chance to experience the sports firsthand and witness elite practitioners in action.
To ensure alternative sports thrive beyond the five-month spotlight, the ministry has already laid groundwork. In September, officials hosted a capacity-building seminar at the Finance Administrative Centre, equipping clubs and associations with training in governance, financial management and strategic planning.
