12/05/2022
Dear Distinguished and Esteemed Colleagues and Friends:
The stubborn fact is that all members of the Belize National Police team are now, and will always be, the 2019 Challenge Cup Relay champions. The pictures with the championship trophy, championship mugs, championship plaque, and championship belt buckles cannot be disputed and will stand the test of time. As such, it is understandable that young folks with a competitive spirit, together with that burning desire to demonstrate their natural God-given talents, would want to defend the coveted championship title at the first opportunity in 2022. We get it!
This is not about a competition of emotions. But because this is my first missed involvement in the race since 1989, and there are others who were involved before that, I, indeed we, have banked enough currency from which I can lend my two “sense” to the decision-making process that resulted in the right and well-reasoned decision to sit out the 2022 event.
There are those of us who are able to rest comfortably in the proven and long-recognized fact that “amateurs talk about tactics while professionals concentrate on logistics.” There is no argument that the 20 runners and five alternate runners are natural-born amateur athletes. Equally or even more important is the fact that runners were supported before, during and after the event by a college of seasoned and well-experienced professional logisticians, without whom this grand accomplishment would have been elusive.
The annual 120-mile relay marathon from Baker, California to Las Vegas, Nevada that takes elite teams just over 12 hours to complete, requires 12 months of expert logistical preparations. The total expenditures, which add up to six figures, are raised mostly in Belize Dollars, but must be converted to United States Dollars before disbursements are made. As such, it would be inconsiderate at top and disingenuous at bottom if we were to ignore the fact that the generous contributions of individuals, businesses, the governments of Belize and the United States, including Belize Police Department, BDF and Coast Guard Departments, and the Embassy, respectively, were inextricable to the overall success.
Before and during the race, we had to follow the stated rules, formalities and logistics to the letter for both teams with which I had a personal involvement.
At the end of the race both teams, which finished the first and third fastest times, were summarily disqualified.
The alleged disqualifying infractions were never carefully considered but, rather, trumped-up, ridiculous nonsense. And, although it was easy to debunk the fact that we were not in violation of any of the stated rules or formalities, and the disqualification was removed without an apology, we had to endure the impertinence from haters across the universe. This was real—not theory or hyperbole.
Because of the open hostilities of the leaders of the race committee, together with our abilities, training, and practice in judging behavior in Washington, we were able to predict correctly that in the very likely event that the Belize team wins the coveted trophy, the rules for future participation would change.
Universally, people with great wisdom would advise to: “Never take an insult for an invitation.” And I endeavor to live by that credo. The decision to change the designation of all foreign teams was just a cover to hide their true animus for Belize, and for losing to a worthy opponent. It is an objective view that this new low level of dishonesty and unprofessionalism is so pernicious that it stands alone when juxtaposed with all other known standards.
In our business, things cannot be personal. For example, foreign citizens who are members of the NBA join the teams representing their native countries and play against their professional teammates in the Olympics. At the end of the Summer Games, those individuals return to their respective NBA team and compete for the top designation of Most Valuable Player (MVP). Then, there are other sporting events with greater universal participation and appeal than the B2V, like the Boston, New York, and Marine Corps Marathon. Because it is deeply rooted in American exceptionalism, it makes no difference where the winners of these iconic sporting events come from. And, for the most part, they generally come from some other place.
We also took into consideration the sensibleness in going to an event that has the potential to be a COVID-19 super-spreader and/or any of its attendant variants.
Imagine if, at the end of the event, just one member had tested positive, he or she would have been denied the ability to fly home. And that would have been just the beginning of a costly problem.
First, quarantining at the hotel for 14 days, including meals and incidentals, are pricey even at a group rate. And that is only a teaser of what a bad decision could have cost for just one individual.
For too long I resisted the popular idiom that: “Those who talk don’t know, and those who know don’t talk,” and reiterate the known fact that there is no “I” in team. As we celebrate the accomplishments of the 25 athletes, we would be remiss if we were to continue to ignore the fact that the success includes the far-reaching support from Belizeans and friends at home and abroad, and the logisticians who worked indefatigably before, during, and after the event. Now, get this: thank you all for your contributions and personal sacrifice.
Sincerely,
ARTHUR A. E. PITTS, SR.
