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-Findings highlight need for national surveillance, urgent interventions

One in five school-age children in South Trinidad are overweight or obese, a condition that sets them on a lifelong path for a range of chronic health problems, including heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

These are the findings of a newly published report by a team of experts from the Trinidad and Tobago Health Sciences Initiative, a collaboration among Johns Hopkins Medicine, The University of Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Health, among other institutions, aimed at improving population health in Trinidad and Tobago through education and research. The study was conducted on behalf of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health.

The results, the research team says, underscore the urgent need to make childhood obesity a top national priority. The experts recommend a swift analysis that quantifies the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity on national scale, followed by the development of relevant strategies to prevent and reverse the condition in youngsters affected by it.

“These are decidedly sobering findings that highlight a critical need to reverse a trend that, if uncorrected, can have far-reaching consequences for the health of this nation,” says Felicia Hill-Briggs, Ph.D., ABPP, senior author on the report, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, director of diabetes research for the Trinidad and Tobago Health Sciences Initiative.

A growing body of evidence shows that many chronic conditions typically deemed “adult” are, in fact, rooted in childhood, the experts say. Obesity is believed to fuel a range of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders and even some cancers, research shows. In addition, early weight problems can speed up the onset of disease at a younger age. For example, type 2 diabetes, which was virtually unseen in children 20 years ago, is now increasingly diagnosed in teens and younger children, a trend fueled by growing childhood obesity, scientists believe. In addition to immeasurable human suffering, the experts note, obesity-fueled disease can cause a serious financial drain on a nation’s health care system to the tune of billions of dollars.

Fortunately, the experts say, there are a range of lifestyle and behavior-modification programs that have proven successful in the treatment of childhood overweight and obesity.

“We have a wide range of interventions, and the time to act is now, before the trend reaches a tipping point,” says report co-author Larry Romany, B.Sc., M.S., former president of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee.

The analysis, based on data collected in 2012, involved more than 3,300 children, ages 5 through 12, from 14 primary schools in the Point Fortin and Mayaro regions of the country. Less than two-thirds of children had normal body mass index. More than one-fifth were overweight or obese, while 13 percent of youngsters were underweight, the study showed. The relatively high proportion of underweight children is another alarming finding, the experts say, highlighting the range of pathologies stemming from poor nutrition. Children in standard 5, or 12 to 13-year-olds, on average, had the highest body-mass index, a finding suggesting that weight troubles that start in early childhood are generally progressive and difficult to reverse, the research team says.

The researchers say that even though the results come from data collected from two Southern regions of the country, the findings may very well reflect a national trend.

Nearly three-quarters of deaths among Trinidadian men stem from chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and respiratory ailments, according to estimates from the World Health Organization published in 2004. Such conditions claim the lives of more than 80 percent of women in Trinidad and Tobago, according to the World Health Organization.

Co-investigators on the report included Mariana Lazo, M.D., Ph.D., Sc.M.; Gary Gerstenblith, M.D.; both of Johns Hopkins. The other co-authors on the study were Troy Romany, former director of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee Shape the Community Programme; and Andrew Dhanoo, B.Sc., of the University of West Indies and a research assistant for TTHSI.

Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM)

Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins Medicine is a $6.7 billion integrated global health enterprise and one of the leading academic health care systems in the United States. JHM unites physicians and scientists of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the organizations, health professionals and facilities of The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System. JHM's vision, “Together, we will deliver the promise of medicine,” is supported by its mission to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care. Diverse and inclusive, JHM educates medical students, scientists, health care professionals and the public; conducts biomedical research; and provides patient-centered medicine to prevent, diagnose and treat human illness. JHM operates six academic and community hospitals, four suburban health care and surgery centers, and more than 35 Johns Hopkins Community Physicians sites. The Johns Hopkins Hospital, opened in 1889, was ranked number one in the nation for 21 years in a row by U.S.

News & World Report. For more information about Johns Hopkins Medicine, its research, education and clinical programs, and for the latest health, science and research news, visit www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

Trinidad and Tobago Health Sciences Initiative

TTHSI began as an umbrella program representing a collaboration among the Ministry of Science,

Technology and Tertiary Education (MSTTE), the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), Ministry of Health (MOH), and Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI), with the goal to advance medicine and health sciences in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. Since then, the collaboration has expanded to include other significant stakeholders in the country including, but not limited to, the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Trinidad and Tobago Medical Association (TTMA). TTHSI includes three programs: the Diabetes Outreach Program (DOP), the Cardiovascular Services Initiative (CSI), and the Masters of Health Administration (MHA).

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) will be following the 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia with keen interest. The Sochi 2014 Olympics gets underway today with the eagerly anticipated opening ceremony.

Six Caribbean nations will be taking part in Sochi- Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, British Virgin Islands and US Virgin Islands. Caribbean representatives will compete in Alpine ,cross country, freestyle skiing with Jamaica taking part in the two man  bobsleigh competition.

The Olympic Games both summer and winter captures the world's imagination and attention and Sochi is predicted to live up to the billing.

In the lead up to the Games there has been a number of controversies of one kind or the other. But the IOC is hopeful that once the athletes start competing the focus of attention will shift to the battle for medals.

The TTOC extends best wishes to the Caribbean athletes competing on Sochi.

TTOC President Brian Lewis; "  I am very happy to see the increase in Caribbean countries participating in the Winter Olympics. Trinidad and Tobago participated before and even though the T&T flag and athletes will not be in Sochi we intend to qualify an athlete or athletes in 2018. We wish our Caribbean colleagues the best in Sochi. "

Let’s keep it real and not lie to ourselves here. Look in the mirror!
Maybe there was a time when you could have gotten away with barely doing the minimum. Probably in your late teens or early 20s you could have been inactive, eaten terribly and still had the appearance of being fit and enjoyed a certain amount of relative vitality in your life. But times change and your lifestyle will or has caught up with you. The brutal truth is that health has to be earned every single day through conscious decisions and deliberate actions. Not only does health and vitality have to be earned, the opposite is certainly going to kill you. Wow, that’s harsh. Think about. Talk about no rest for the weary.
We are perhaps the most fortunate generation ever, depending on how you look at things, to benefit from the rapid advance in science and technology that has allowed us to finally come to an in-depth understanding of how the complex organism that is our human body really works.
The mapping of the human genome was completed way back in April 2003. This means that basically we now understand the blueprint for building a person. This sequencing of our DNA and understanding of our genes has greatly aided medicine and health sciences.
With this information, we have been able to figure out our individual genetic predispositions to sickness and have an in-depth understanding of what genetic and environmental factors make us sick or help us to live long, healthy lives.
We all carry certain genetic traits and predispositions in our DNA like our physical characteristics, making us the unique beings that we are. However, in our DNA we carry the genetic predisposition to terrifying things like cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, heart disease etc. We now understand that the combination of a genetic predisposition and the right environmental factors is what leads to us falling ill with the aforementioned scourges of the human race. Fortunately, most of the information about what environmental factors make us sick or keep us healthy is now common knowledge.
For example, we should all be aware that smoking causes lung cancer, and that too many simple sugars in our diet over a sustained period of time leads to insulin insensitivity and to diabetes. I am sure many of us are even tired of hearing about the benefits of exercise and a healthy lifestyle expounded upon constantly. Yet sadly, people continue to ignore them until it becomes a case of too little too late. Furthermore we are now able to have our entire individual DNA analysed to tell us exactly what health risks we have a higher or lower chance of contracting down the road. Basically there has never before been a time like this, a time where we no longer have the excuse of ignorance when it comes to being unhealthy.
Today, levels of obesity continue to rise with the tendency towards a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet. Looking at the top 10 leading causes of death worldwide according to the World Health Organisation, coronary heart disease, which is the build-up of plaque inside the arteries of the heart, is the leading cause of death worldwide.
Suffering a stroke--which is commonly due to high blood pressure, obesity and smoking--is the second leading killer. If that was not enough to get the point across, smoking is responsible for the fourth leading cause of death;chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which is the progressive failure of the lungs. In the developed world, cancer is the second biggest killer. Most of those cases could have been avoided by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle in time.These facts hit close to home as we all have known people who have suffered from the above. Let’s face it, if it can happen to them, and if we choose to go down that same road it WILL happen to us.
Laziness is a terrible thing.
Despite having the most profound understanding ever in the history of the human race about what sickens and kills us and what slows our aging and maximizes our vitality, we are now as a species more unhealthy than we have ever been before.
During the recent downturn in the world economy, it was interesting to note that the only two sectors that continued to grow were defence spending, and surprisingly, healthcare. That fact tells us that aside from preparing for and killing more people, a high and continually growing number of people were sick. Pause for a minute to think back on the people you saw in the last half-hour. Were they bastions of health? Doubtful. My case in point.
The healthy earn their health and longevity every single day. It is never final. They do it through a constant, disciplined process of making the right choices when it comes to their diet and lifestyle. Healthy people seek out healthy, real food and avoid the unhealthy temptations. They also make time to consistently exercise. This is not just about staying alive. Being conscientious when it comes to your health will ensure that you are able to have a greater measure of vitality in your life, that you will be active and able to fully enjoy your life instead of suffering painfully through it.
We have all heard the adage that “we are what we eat” or “garbage in, garbage out”. I personally love and abide by this quote from Hypocrites who was the ancient greek founder of modern medicine. It goes as follows: “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”
I read labels and don’t put in my body or on my skin any of those long chemical words, preservatives or dyes that we have become accustomed to seeing in the processed, so called “foods” that we eat. I work hard to take care of my body and optimise my health, not just to aid in my athletic training, performance and recovery but also because I plan to take care of this body in case I live to be old.
It is the only one I have. Through the sport of swimming and my travels because of it, I have been fortunate to have met and been inspired by many ageless individuals who constantly redefine for themselves what society’s definition of how an 80, 90 or 100 year-old should look and act by the impressive physical and mental feats they are still capable of achieving.
You don’t have to earn your health every day. Most of you are so fortunate! You GET the opportunity to earn your health everyday. I assure you that right now, there are countless suffering, sick and dying people everywhere who would do anything to be in your shoes or to go back in time and still have the chance to earn their health everyday before it becomes too late.
When you really think about it, we humans are so confused; we willingly trade our health for money and fleeting minor pleasure but then would desperately trade all of our money and suffer terribly to regain a fraction of it. What’s really important here? Once you have your health you can do anything!

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Five local referees have been selected on the FIFA panel for 2014. The five officials, including experienced men’s referee Neil Brizan and assistant referee Cindy Mohammed, were recently presented with their FIFA badges at the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) head office, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain.
The other officials are women’s referee Cecile Hinds and assistant referees Caleb Wales and Ainsley Rochard. With their appointments to the FIFA panel, they are in line for appointments for international matches.
Former FIFA World Cup referee Ramesh Ramdhan, who is also head of the TTFA Referees department, called on the five officials to be role models to their fellow local referees.
“Five is a good start but of course we want to have even more local referees on the FIFA panel,” Ramdhan stated.
“You as referees are in this position because of your hard work and willingness to learn and to carry out your duties in the right way. But you have to take it a step further and carry yourselves as examples to others. What I want is for these FIFA referees to know that they are the top referees in the country and you represent Trinidad and Tobago. The younger referees must be able to emulate you. The others must be able to see your standard. For too long referees did not think that they had a responsibility to do this,” he added.
“I also plan this year, based on requests, to get more active in the actual training of referees and I am looking forward to this. This is all with the aim of raising the standard of our referees which will in turn have a positive effect on the game locally,” Ramdhan said.
TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee congratulated the five officials.
“These referees carry the country’s title Trinidad and Tobago and the national flag every time their name shows up at a match, whether it be on a document or on the television screens. And like players and other officials, they play a very important role in the game. Referees are in charge of a football game and therefore we need to ensure our officials are properly trained so they can run a match in the right manner. I am quite pleased about these five appointees and I hope we can continue to produce even more in the future.”

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T&T sprinter’s lawyers settle with IAAF

The Semoy Hackett doping case will not be decided at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The CAS hearing was scheduled for next Tuesday, in New York, USA, but has been cancelled following a settlement between Hackett’s legal team and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
In June 2012, Hackett had tested positive for Methylhexaneamine at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, in Iowa, USA. The National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) disciplinary panel handed the Louisiana State University (LSU) sprinter a provisional suspension, but later lifted it.
At the 2013 Trinidad and Tobago Championships, Hackett secured silver in the women’s 200 metres and finished fourth in the 100m final. She qualified for the World Championships in both events, and was selected on the T&T team that travelled to Moscow, Russia, for the global meet. But while Hackett was in Moscow, the IAAF—not in agreement with the NAAA’s decision to lift her suspension—lodged an appeal with the CAS. The re-suspended athlete left the Championships.
The 2012 positive was Hackett’s second doping offence. She had served a six-month ban after testing positive—also for Methylhexaneamine—at the 2011 T&T Championships.
A source confirmed yesterday that the CAS hearing has been cancelled.
“Her legal team,” the source told the Express, “made an agreement with the IAAF. There is no information yet on any sanction, but the parties agreed to settle the case, asking the CAS to suspend the procedure while they sign the settlement documents.”
When the settlement is finalised, the IAAF will convey the decision to the CAS.
Another T&T sprinter, Kelly-Ann Baptiste was expected to appear before the NAAA disciplinary panel last month. However, that hearing did not take place.
It has been “postponed to an undetermined date,” the source explained, “due to ongoing investigations.”
Last year, Baptiste tested positive for a banned substance, and withdrew from the World Championships.
The 2011 World Championship women’s 100m bronze medallist is based in Florida, USA, and is part of the same training camp as American sprint star Tyson Gay.
Gay also tested positive for a banned substance in 2013. In fact, it was reported in a July 27 Associated Press report that Gay “had multiple positives”.
“One person familiar with the case told the AP that multiple positives over a short period of time are a sign of an athlete who wasn’t trying to hide anything but simply didn’t know he was taking a banned drug,” the AP report stated.
“Gay is cooperating with USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency).
“Since news of his positive,” AP reported, “media reports have linked Gay to Clayton Gibson, an anti-aging doctor based in Atlanta.”

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Lalonde impressive in New York 400

Kashef Daniel equalled the national record in the men’s high jump, at the Indiana University Relays indoor meet, in Indiana, USA, on Saturday.
The Arkansas State University student cleared the bar at 2.15 metres on his second attempt to enter the Trinidad and Tobago record book, alongside Kevin Huggins. Huggins established the 2.15m T&T standard back in 2007.
Daniel finished second on Saturday.
At the Columbia Lions Invitational, in New York, double Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon struck gold in the men’s 400 metres in 46.67 seconds--more than a second faster than his closest rival. Another T&T athlete, Adrian Crichlow clocked 50.25 to finish 14th overall.
Andre Marcano bagged bronze in the men’s 60m dash in 6.84 seconds. In the preliminary round, he clocked a personal best 6.73 to advance to the final as the fastest qualifier.
Ayanna Alexander emerged victorious in the Patriot Games women’s triple jump event, in Virginia. She produced a 12.73m effort.
At the Varsity Apartments Invitational, in Kansas, Samantha Shukla dominated her rivals in the women’s 3,000m. The Wichita State University student won the race in 10 minutes, 07.43 seconds.
Butler Community College sprinter Richard Marcano finished 18th overall in the men’s 200m in 23.04 seconds. And University of Texas at Arlington student Aaron Leung Woo-Gabriel was 23rd in 23.60.
Deborah John stopped the clock at 8.45 seconds to grab gold in the women’s 60m hurdles, at the Cobber Duals meet, in Minnesota.
In Pennsylvania, Steve Waithe produced a 15.88m effort to secure second spot in the men’s triple jump, at the Penn State National Invitational. The Pennsylvania State University junior also competed in the long jump, finishing 10th with a 7.11m leap.
At the Jack Jennett Invitational, in Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student Durell Busby clocked 8.04 seconds to seize silver in the men’s 60m hurdles.
Last Thursday, at the Gugl indoor meet, in Linz, Austria, Marcus Duncan finished second in heat four and sixth overall in the men’s 60m preliminaries in 6.88 seconds. However, he suffered a hamstring cramp in the race, and did not face the starter in the final.
And at the New Mexico Team Invitational, in New Mexico, USA, on Saturday, Louisiana State University (LSU) sprinter Shermund Allsop clocked 21.53 seconds for ninth spot overall in the men’s 200m.

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Raymond Tim Kee, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), says constitutional change is coming to the TTFA.
Tim Kee made the announcement at the TTFA’s Congress, at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, on Sunday.
In an hour-long address, Tim Kee said the time had come to change how the organisation is structured.
“Our constitution needs a serious overhauling because in many regards the structure is archaic and does not lend itself to good corporate governance or for progress,” he stated.
“It is not as all-embracing as it ought to be...in business we have a saying ‘from the broom room to the board room’ meaning that everybody must have a say, so we have to fashion what we do if we want to sustain our business by following best practices.”
Tim Kee said the TTFA does not have to reinvent the wheel because organisations had spent millions of dollars to change management and restructure. His organisation, he explained, just has to follow that model.
Tim Kee said the constitutional reform commission is currently working on a new constitution. Without giving a specific date, he said that once the commission is done with its work, the document will be submitted to the TTFA executive.
“It is hoped we could move forward what we have now (the current constitution). We have to make best use of what we have but I know some comparatives have been done in the drafting (of the new constitution) which looked at football industry and organisations. It (the constitution) has to change, it has to change,” Tim Kee stated.
“We are looking to restructure things in a good, progressive way.”
Earlier in his address, Tim Kee said futsal and beach soccer are to be ratified, and that the TTFA, currently housed at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, is looking for a new home.
“We would love to acquire our land, which I am working on feverishly, and put up a new structure...and that is not far-fetched at all.”
Tim Kee also revealed that the TTFA is looking to hire coaches for each of the national football teams, and is seeking a new sponsor for the Super League whose contract with Anthony Harford expires at the end of February. Tim Kee said the TTFA had embarked on its grassroots programme called Shoreline that will be facilitated by the 250 coaches trained by TTFA technical director Anton Corneal last year.
On the international scene, Tim Kee said the TTFA proposes to play international friendlies overseas, and the organisation is currently working out the financial viability of such ventures that would include negotiation for broadcast rights.
He said besides the Argentina and Iran friendlies, the TTFA is working on securing three more games against opponents that “would surprise everyone”.
Tim Kee also spoke about the TTFA’s relationships with corporate T&T and the Ministry of Sport. He said both are on the mend, adding that the TTFA is on the verge of signing contracts with three companies, and now enjoys a much improved relationship with Minister of Sport Anil Roberts.
Tim Kee explained that the TTFA will keep segregated accounts and sponsorship money will be used for the purpose given.
“So no mixing up of people’s money in one account. That does not bring confidence, and the companies and the organisation have the right to request at anytime the accounts. That brings confidence.”

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The declaration of true faith and allegiance to the greater good and the best interest of sport on the twin Island Republic is made by everyone actively involved in the administration and leadership of sport.

It is the very same declaration law abiding citizens make to this our native land—Islands of the blue Caribbean Sea that we pledge our lives to serve.

What therefore has gone wrong or where have we gone wrong?

Is it acceptable for the sporting community to continue to close their eyes, heart and minds to the reality that the integrity of sport must be defended fearlessly without compromise or surrender?

To cower out of fear is to impose a terrible injustice not only the concept of fairplay and sportsmanship but more importantly to the young people of this nation.

We can plan and talk about policy, programmes and who don’t know what they doing and who don’t have what is required to administrate, lead and manage sport from now till thine kingdom come. But in the absence of integrity, honesty, ethics, transparency, equity and a commitment to do right. All fall down.

It makes little sense. Call it the framework, the eco system, the architecture or infrastructure. Whatever, it’s nothing but empty rhetoric and self-serving silo and empire building if the creation in whatever incarnation is devoid of integrity, honesty, ethics and equity.

There is neither excuse nor justification for tolerating and accepting wrong doing.

Sport in T&T will not sustainably develop, achieve and maintain its full potential in the absence of an unwavering dedication and commitment to uphold the integrity of sport and sport’s integrity.

Those who turn a blind eye are as culpable as those who are more than willing and comfortable to do what is wrong. There is no convenient explanation that is acceptable or tolerable.

Sport on the twin Island Republic and the integrity of sport must not be compromised by those who seek to extra rent from the system.

The values of sport must not be bartered for a bag of silver.

When unethical and corrupt acts are condoned it’s the young people who derive benefit from participating in sport who are the real victims.

It is incomprehensible in a small Island state comprised of just over 1.3 million inhabitants with 600 billion and counting T&T Dollars having passed through the economy that there are still cries that money is a problem.

The arithmetic doesn’t add up.

That’s a rough napkin calculation going back over the last decade. Billions!

But for all our grumpiness, the citizens of T&T are in many ways far better off than many around the globe.

Citizens of T&T continue to benefit from subsidies in education, electricity, water, transportation, housing etc. We are indeed blessed to live in T&T.

That reality however can’t mean that we must turn a blind eye to wrong doing.

If better can be done then we should demand that better be done.

There must be an intensified, sustained and fearless demand for the highest standard of ethics and integrity and a resource allocation system that has as its mandate serving rather than ruling.

The integrity of sport and sport’s integrity, its trustworthiness and potential to make a significant and constructive difference are non-negotiable.

Creating an ethical, non- corrupt sport environment, strengthening institutional capacity and governance practices will take not only conscientiousness, activism and careful thought but unrestrained courage.

Sport matters. The integrity of sport matters.

Source

Two Central Trinidad communities can now enjoy the camaraderie and joy of sport on their upgraded recreation grounds. The Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) completed works at the Beaucarreau and Phoenix Park and handed over the keys last Thursday to a representative of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation.

Anil Roberts, Minister of Sport hailed the Sports Company for their quality work in ensuring that communities have access to recreation facilities. “I know the people who live in these communities are extremely grateful for the opportunity to access and enjoy the appropriate venues for sport and recreation. This is all part of the Government’s efforts in all sectors to develop safe spaces where sporting talent can be nurtured and where critical family and community ties can be forged.”

Both facilities are now ready for use with the following amenities:

• Outfield with turf wickets

• Hard courts for basketball and netball

• 500-seater pavilion with ramp as well as office, meeting and storage spaces

• Change rooms with lockers, showers, toilets (including disabled access toilet)

• Two cricket practice nets

• Jogging track

• Car park

• Perimeter Fencing

• Drainage


Phoenix Park Recreation Ground saw action as early as Sunday with a scheduled women’s cricket league match between Technocrats and Cricket Lovers. Works Supervisor at the Corporation, Ian Gokool said the upgrades were very timely and suited the needs of both communities. He added that both grounds will be independently manages by a committee of stakeholders, including respective village councils and sports clubs in the area. He said, “It will be a community effort in order to maximise the use of the grounds and to maintain the pristine conditions in which the grounds were handed over.”

Secretary of the Beaucarreau Village Council, Reena Persad said she was grateful for the work done by the Sports Company especially given the state of the ground before. “This was just an empty lot basically, before this upgrade. People used to park trailers here and we had to jump over a drain to access it. But now that there are proper facilities, there is no end to the kinds of events that we [Village Council] could host, and not just sport but family day activities and cultural events as well. I am looking forward to having regular aerobics sessions on the hard court as well as bringing my family to see cricket and football matches, right here in my community.”

Sharing similar sentiments was Gangaram Gopaul, Councillor for Brechin Castle/Esperanza. He said, “We got a really nice facility here and the preparation of the outfield and pitch are excellent. I can foresee a busy time for the ground but we are determined to mainstream the facilities so they can be enjoyed for generations to come.”

Phoenix Park, Beaucarreau and Knowles Street are the three recreation grounds already handed over by the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, whose remit it is to upgrade these grounds for the benefit of grassroots sport and community enhancement. 19 more grounds are currently under construction at various locations across the country. During the tour of the grounds, Sports Company officials informed those gathered that the new facilities could also now accommodate the Youth Sport Camps held during vacation periods, which instruct children and youth on the fundamentals of various sports free of charge. The venues, as they are closer to home and easier to access, thereby engendering higher participation rates in these communities.

These handovers are largely operational, and for the benefit of the custodians of the facilities but ceremonial openings to be held at other venues will be announced within communities. In the meantime, residents are free to use the facilities as guided by the respective Regional Corporation.

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Ahye on fire in Texas

Celebrated local coach Dr Ian Hypolite used the unwritten, yet still unfolding story of champion hurdler Jehue Gordon in the sport of athletics to inspire emerging athletes at the First Citizens Sports Foundation 2013 Junior Sportsman and Sportswomen of the Year Awards.

Delivering the feature address at the evening gala with the theme Dare to Dream, held at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad,Dock Road, Port-of-Spain, on Friday, Hypolite said, “Just about seven years ago, I gave an ultimatum to a gangling youngster whose commitment to training did not match the obvious talent that he possessed. I suggested that he needed to make up his mind about whether he wanted to do track and field or not, but I made it clear that I was not happy with his occasional appearances. Interestingly enough, when I recalled the incident to him years later, he had no recollection of it.”

He added, “My words had effect and the end result is that he was able to find himself present at the Olympic games in Beijing while a 16-year-old, not as a competitor, but as a spectator having won a competition that he had to compete for on the track. The experience of Beijing must have had a tremendous impact on him. Indeed, who could escape the impact of Beijing?”

Gordon, won gold for T&T in the 400-metre hurdle event at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, Russia, back in August, before repeating his fashionable win at the Diamond League in Brussels, Belgium, a month later.

He returned home to tremendous national adulation and was voted Sportsman of the Year by the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) back in December and Male Athlete of the Year, by the National Association of Athletics Administrators (NAAA) in January.

At the Spirit of Sport Awards held in December, Gordon walked away with top accolades such as: Male Athlete of the Year, Breakthrough Performance of the Year, Sport Performance of the Year, and Consistent Performer of the Year

With the dream, said Hypolite, came the milestones which were important steps along the way to Gordon’s goal.

He recalled that a meet in Cuba, Gordon, who he described as not more than a boy among men declared, “I’m going for it!”

Hypolite said, “He did! In the process, he put a scare into the hearts of seasoned campaigners, men who, up to that time, he (Gordon) had only read about…And so, this ‘man-child’ went onto show himself to the world announcing his presence in the boldest way possible. It was then, in a hotel room in Berlin that his still gangling no longer anonymous youngster said to me: ‘I believe that I am the future of this event!”

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has predicted Sochi 2014 will be a "great Games for athletes", after arriving in the host city today.

He was greeted by Sochi 2014 Organising Committee President and chief executive Dmitry Chernyshenko and head of the Russian Olympic Committee and IOC member Alexander Zhukov.

A dozen volunteers from across Russia and overseas also greeted President Bach as he arrived in Sochi.

"They [athletes] will have state of the art sports facilities," he said.

"Most of them will be able to walk from their beds to the competition venues.

"They are very excited about it.

"I had the opportunity to speak to some of them during the flight and they are all looking forward to the beginning of the Games."

Bach will chair a number of meetings in the next week, with the the IOC Executive Board on (Sunday) February 2 and the 126th IOC Session from February 4 until 6.

Earlier this week, he said he was "sleeping very well" when asked by reporters during a teleconference about some of the controversy, and fears over security, overshadowing the build-up to the Games.

"Fear is a very bad advisor and not a category in which I think," he added.

"I am really looking forward to first Winter Games under my Presidency.

"I'm very confident they will be very successful."

The Opening Ceremony of the Games will begin in one weeks' time, on February 7.

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Victory for Shukla in Nebraska

Shot putter Cleopatra Borel is at the top of the 2014 world outdoor performance list, following her victory at the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Development Meet 3, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, on Saturday.

The Trinidad and Tobago field athlete threw the iron ball 17.43 metres in her season-opener to shoot to the top of the women’s shot put list.

Borel endured a tough 2013 campaign, a hyper-extended finger on her throwing hand preventing her from producing her best results. Additionally, her father, Raymond Borel, was ailing. He passed away in August.

But despite the physical and emotional challenges, Borel struck gold at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Senior Track and Field Championships, in Morelia, Mexico – her third victory in six CAC Seniors outings. In Morelia, she threw 17.56m – almost two metres short of her 19.48m personal best.

Borel told the Express, yesterday, she has great expectations for 2014.

“I don’t want to put numbers out there, but the sky is the limit.

“I’m satisfied with my season opener. It was a test run...something to shake off the dust. I was trying to go 100 percent to see how the finger would be. It’s going well, so I should be good to go for this year. I’m looking at my technique right now, and I’m executing right.”

Borel said she is targeting the March 7-9 World Indoor Championships, in Sopot, Poland.

“I might have to do my preparation at home. There’s nothing for my event on the circuit, so I’m trying to take advantage of the development meets.”

Borel is also eyeing the July 23-August 3 Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland. The 34-year-old field athlete has an excellent record at the Games. Borel was fourth on debut in 2002, bagged bronze in 2006, and secured silver in 2010. She wants to add to her medal collection in Glasgow, and is also hoping to bid for precious metal at the November 15-30 CAC Games in

Veracruz, Mexico.

Borel’s preparations are being overseen by Ismael Lopez

Mastrapa, the man who coached Keshorn Walcott to men’s javelin gold at the 2012 London Olympics.

“Things are going really well,” said Borel. “I’m very happy with the work we’re doing.”

Samantha Shukla was also victorious on Saturday. The Wichita State University student returned a time of nine minutes, 58.89 seconds to top the women’s 3,000 metres field at the Mark Colligan Memorial indoor meet, in Nebraska, USA.

Jameel Walcott finished fifth in the men’s 800m at the Tar Heel Opener in North Carolina, the St Augustine’s University student getting home in 1:55.93.

And at the Princeton Tiger Open, in New Jersey, University of Delaware athlete Chelsi Campbell clocked 1:02.32 to finish eighth overall in the women’s 400m.

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On Monday 27th January, the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago Arthur Snell met with the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association President Brian Lewis to discuss plans for the Queen's Baton Relay visit to our shores.

The Queen's Baton Relay is a much loved tradition of the Commonwealth Games and symbolizes the coming together of all Commonwealth nations and territories. The customary relay is a celebration of the Commonwealth family, which offers an unparalleled opportunity to showcase each nation and territory in the Commonwealth. There are a number of activities planned in Trinidad and our sister isle Tobago for the Queen’s Baton’s visit from 11^th to 14^th March, 2014.

The XX Commonwealth Games would be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 23^rd July – 03^rd August.

In an effort to encourage young people with a keen interest in sport to get involved and make a positive difference. I am committed to giving them a voice and space. This week’s Things that Matter column places the focus on sports nutrition and Tracey Pierre, a graduate of Leeds Metropolitan University, who has agreed to put pen to paper and share her thoughts on sports nutrition.

The name “Sport Nutrition” is somewhat of a misnomer, because it implies a special kind of nutrition only geared toward people who play sports. However, in this context, ‘sports’ is generic and much broader in its definition.

Sport Nutrition encompasses an extremely wide range of potential candidates, including athletes, weekend warriors, gym rats, fitness buffs, diehard aerobic queens and sport fanatics. It includes anyone engaged in physical activity. In fact, if you train and eat food, you’re engaged in sports nutrition.

‘Sport Nutrition’ is an intricate fusion between the scientifically precise and the socially practical. There is an art to nourishing an active body with high quality foods and natural health products in a skilful and safe manner. One must not only be concerned with what we eat, but also the when, where and how. The science of this field helps us to understand the fundamental theories of “why” certain recommendations and decisions are made regarding athlete nutrition. Through careful observation, research and repeated experiment, experts in the field investigate the effect of controlled exercise, food and natural products on the health, recovery and performance of athletes. While optimum nutrition can facilitate significant gains in these areas, poor nutritional choices can have equally disastrous results. As a result, changes to an athlete’s diet very clearly manifest themselves within any one of these three parameters.

Nutritional needs of athletes can vary significantly from those of the average physically active individual and as such, their eating habits require special consideration. An athlete’s dietary needs can fluctuate throughout the cycle various phases of an athletic year.

Macronutrient requirements often need to be manipulated so as to meet personal goals and maximise the benefits of training, enhance performance in competition, reduce recovery time and minimiae the risk of injury. Though many athletes are committed to their sport and acknowledge the importance of nutrition in preparation, competition and recovery, they often face many situations that challenge their resolve, and make adhering to a programme difficult.

Outside the realm of micro and macronutrients, individuals in the field of sport nutrition need to have an understanding of the effects of travel and travel related illness on an athlete and the ways in which food and other related interventions are best used to both avoid and treat them.

Evaluation of nutrition knowledge of athletes can lead to a clearer understanding of areas around which an education or intervention programme should focus. It has been suggested that a positive attitude toward nutrition is an indicator of greater responsiveness to education programmes. The nutrition knowledge of Caribbean athletes and coaches, more specifically, those from Trinidad and Tobago, has never been reported in an academic arena.

Successful integration of a sport nutrition programme requires an understanding of the athletic culture, physiological milestones, and life stressors faced by athletes. Athlete education should therefore be both practical and dynamic.

Professionals in the field of sport nutrition should be competent in:

Ensuring that nutrition plans are focused primarily on the health and well being of the athlete

Applying sport nutrition science to fuel fitness and performance

Conducting and analysing nutrition assessments.

Educating individuals in food selection, purchase and preparation

Addressing energy balance and weight management issues

Addressing nutritional challenges to performance

Developing personalised nutrition and hydration strategies

Understanding the unique needs of vegetarian, vegan other athletes with special diets

Providing clear and concise information regarding the use of supplements and other ergogenic aids

Pierre has a Masters Degree in Sports and Exercise Science with a focus on Sport Nutrition from Leeds Metropolitan University. She has a keen interest in sharing her knowledge and giving back to sport in T&T. She was recently named as the sport nutritionist for the T&T team for the upcoming second Summer Youth Olympics in Nanjing, China from August 16-28.

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Lendore leads the way as T&T athletes prosper in US

Deon Lendore was the feature act as Trinidad and Tobago athletes enjoyed a fruitful weekend at indoor track and field meets in the United States.
Lendore’s world-leading time of 45.74 seconds earned him victory in the men’s 400 metres at the Texas A&M Triangular, in Texas, on Saturday. Running a 400 for the first time this season, the Texas A&M University student won section one, finishing more than two seconds ahead of the runner-up.
Another T&T athlete, Carlyle Roudette, who is also a Texas A&M student, topped section two in 46.58 for second spot overall.
Lendore was the fastest man in the world last year in the men’s indoor 400m event, his 45.15 seconds national record run earning him 10th spot on the world all-time list. The 21-year-old quarter-miler is leading the world again, and well poised for a successful 2014 campaign.
Lendore’s 45.74 clocking is a new meet record.
His Texas A&M teammate, Wayne Davis II equalled the men’s 60m hurdles meet record, the T&T athlete topping the field in 7.75 seconds.
Another T&T/Texas A&M athlete, Janeil Bellille struck gold in the women’s 400m in 53.58 seconds—a new indoor best. And Louisiana State University (LSU) sprinter, Shermund Allsop was sixth in the men’s 200m in 21.74 seconds.
At the Arkansas State Invitational, Kashef Daniel cleared the bar at 2.13 metres to triumph in the men’s high jump. Daniel was also victorious two weekends ago, at the Kentucky Collegiate Invitational. The Arkansas State University student jumped a personal best 2.14m.
Another T&T jumper, Deandra Daniel topped the women’s high jump field at the Captain’s Invitational meet in Virginia with a 1.73m clearance. That victory was a follow-up to her golden performance two weekends ago at the Terrapin Invitational in Maryland, where the Coppin State University sophomore jumped a personal best 1.80m.
Daniel also competed in the triple jump in Virginia. She finished sixth with a 10.23m effort.
At the Jack Johnson Classic, in Minnesota, University of Minnesota senior Alena Brooks returned a time of two minutes, 08.16 seconds to grab gold in the women’s 800m. Iowa Central Community College sophomore, Jessica James was 15th overall in 2:19.01.
North Dakota State University’s Deborah John triumphed in the women’s 60m hurdles in 8.41 seconds—a new meet record.
And University of Iowa senior Carissa Leacock produced a 12.09m effort to seize silver in the women’s triple jump.
Geronne Black was the class of the women’s 60m dash Friday field at the Cherry and Silver Invitational in New Mexico, the T&T sprinter winning in 7.37 seconds. She had clocked 7.33 in the preliminary round.
Jarrin Solomon finished second in section one and third overall in the men’s 400m Saturday event, in 46.70 seconds. Another T&T quarter-miler, Ade Alleyne-Forte was 10th overall in 47.72. In the 200m, Alleyne-Forte was 26th in 22.13.
Jamol James sprinted to victory in the men’s 60m dash white event at the Rod McCravy Memorial, in Kentucky. The University of Tennessee junior stopped the clock at 6.76 seconds. Baylor University sophomore, Dannielle Davis was ninth overall in the women’s 60m hurdles white event in 8.84 seconds. And in the long jump, Davis finished 16th with a 5.39m leap.
At the Terrier Invitational, in Boston, Morgan State University’s Emmanuel Stewart won the men’s weight throw with an 18.82m effort. Andre Marcano clocked 6.94 seconds for eighth spot in the men’s 60m dash. In the preliminary round, he got to the line in 6.91.
And at the Vanderbilt Invitational, in Tennessee, Peli Alzola was seventh in the women’s 200m in 24.63 seconds. The Mississippi State University freshman also competed in the 60m dash, finishing 10th overall in 7.84.

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The home of sport champions and gold medals. It’s an aspiration, a dream, a big goal. T&T can be a dream factory a place where sport dreams become reality. But reality demands an action plan.

One characteristic all champions have is they are never completely satisfied with their performance. They are their own harshest critic.

It’s all about making yourself prepared. You can't doubt yourself. You have to be confident and go for it. In big games and events and at big moments, it comes down to who wants it most. When everyone is tired, it’s about who wants it most, who will dig deep and make the extra effort.

What drives a champion? It’s the joy found in effort. The resolute quest for excellence. It’s the courage to lay down a marker.

Last Saturday at the Jean Pierre Complex, the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) held the first of three fitness tests as part of the selection criteria for upcoming Commonwealth, Youth Olympics and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games.

Started in 1997, there is an improvement in the attitude of some sports to the concept of the “Beep” test.

This improvement was on display at the Complex as some 100 athletes of varying ages from a number of sports turned up.

The TTOC was supported by Tobias Ottley, executive manager of the Sport Company of T&T High Performance Unit and his staff.

It was a fantastic atmosphere. There are some extremely bright and talented young people who have followed their passion and gone and studied sports science, sports medicine, sports nutrition, sports management, sport physiology, bio mechanics, kinesiology etc, and they are willing to give back and make a contribution.

I make the bold prediction that it is these young people who will be the catalyst for the transformation of sport in T&T.

Those who doubt that T&T could be the home of world champions and Olympic gold medals needed to be at the Complex to see for themselves the revolution taking place.

The TTOC is committed to creating the environment that will encourage, engage and empower athletes, youth and young people. They must have a voice and be given equal opportunity.

T&T sport need new ideas, new hopes, new aspirations, new people and more creativity.

This is why the TTOC's Athlete Commission career, mentor and welfare programmes are essential.

If we want T&T to be the breeding ground for young talent. We have to meet our athletes and young people at the point of their need.

The future for the next generation of sport stars can be as bright as we want to make it.

But to do so we must tap in to the vision, enthusiasm and commitment of the athletes and the young people who want to make a contribution. The concept of paying your dues must not be an artificial barrier.

The views, ideas, concerns and voice of the athletes and young people must be welcomed, embraced, empowered and given priority.

Young people must be given a hands on role in spreading the gospel of sport. Investing in youth is a priority. We have an incredibly talented group of young people within T&T sport.

Give them a chance. The faith shown in them will be of immense benefit not only to sport but T&T society on the whole.

Empower them. The future of sport is in the hands, minds, voices and spirit of young people who are determined to make a positive difference.

They need opportunity and positive role models and to be part of a bottom up and grassroots mobilisation that symbolises values of honesty, integrity, excellence and achievement.

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A dossier of documents containing financial statements and cheques related to the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC) have been handed over to detectives of the Fraud Squad.

Sources say the documents were from the TTBBC and sent anonymously to police headquarters on Park and Richmond Streets, Port of Spain. The Fraud Squad received the documents last Monday.

Copies were also sent to the Auditor’s General Department and the Integrity Commission.

Police sources say they received the dossier last Monday afternoon and have initiated an investigation into whether any offences were committed. Copies of 27 cheques signed and cashed by a senior board member were also included.

Part of the documents sources say show $4.75 million unaccounted for. The monies were given to the board by the Ministry in a bid to liquidate debts. Sources say Cabinet approved the allocation for boxing.

The debts included paying more than 24 coaches.

Sources say the names of companies which allegedly funneled the monies were also contained in the files.

It was only last week that an auditor from the Ministry of Sport visited the TTBCC headquarters on the Eastern Main Road, Tunapuna, seeking to get financial records.

TTBCC vice chairman Imtiaz Zaid Mohammed declined the request stating written permission from the ministry was needed, since the board answers to Minister of Sport Anil Roberts. Last week, the Sunday Express exclusively reported that chairman of the TTBBC Deopersad Ramoutar was suspended following allegations of financial impropriety.

His suspension took effect on December 10, and came following a board of directors meeting held on October 16.

The board comprises of Mohammed, secretary Vijay Bhaggan, members Shama Stroude, Neale Greaves, Keven Antoine and Colin Mills.

Documents in the Sunday Express possession state that, on December 10, 2013, Mohammed wrote Ramoutar stating the decision to suspend was “unanimous”.

Mohammed in his letter expressed displeasure  when “it was discovered that you wrote cheques in your favour without the knowledge and approval of the Board”.

Copies of the cheques obtained by the Sunday Express — August 30, 2013- $3,000, October 15-$2,000, August 27-$5,000 and October 16-$10,000, showed Ramoutar’s name as receiving monies. The cheques were made out to Ramoutar and signed by himself and Greaves. A fifth cheque totaling $30,000 was made out to the Amateur Association of T&T (AATT).

Ramoutar in an interview with the Sunday Express said he made cheques out in his name and his actions were done above board .

Ramoutar said at present the TTBBC is fragmented and as far as he is concerned the board does not have any jurisdiction to suspend him.

Ramoutar could not be reached to respond to questions about the police investigation into the files.

Efforts to contact Roberts and Mohammed were unsuccessful.

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Trinidad and Tobago cyclist Kwesi Browne finished ninth in the men’s keirin event at the UCI (International Cycling Union) Track Cycling World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico on Saturday.

Browne pedalled off in the 7-12 place run-off, finishing ninth behind Simon Van Velthooven of New Zealand and Christos Volikakis of Greece.

In the final, the Netherlands Mathijs Buchli claimed the gold medal over Colombia’s Santoago Ramirez and Great Britain’s Lewis Alexander Oliva, who took silver and bronze, respectively.

Hugo Barrette of Canada was fourth.

Browne competed in heat one of  the second round Saturday night, coming up against Benjamin Edelin of France,  Lewis Alexander Oliva of Great Britain, Joachim Eilers of Germany, Matthijs Buchli from the Netherlands and Simon Van Velthooven of New Zealand.

In the first round earlier Saturday, Browne was fourth in heat four, with Van Velthooven winning the heat and Satiago Ramirez of Colombia coming in second and Japan’s Yuta Wakimoto third.

Brown went into the repechage, which is a second chance for non-qualifiers in the initial heat to advance to the second round, and won his race against Russia’s Kirill Samusenko and Argentina’s Leando Heman Botasso to make it into the second round.

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