Team TTO | Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee | teamtto.org

oct.31.2006

It must be of concern for the Sport of tennis ,the proposed destruction of the ten tennis courts at Princes Building.Considering that the Sport recently suffered the lost of the four courts at the PSA Center.

Can Tennis in Port.of.Spain and the environs overcome the loss of fourteen tennis courts?

That will be a tall order.It is a situation that the Tennis Association will have to urgently address as it will have significant implications for their development plans and the future growth of the sport.

nov.16.2006

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) support for qualified national athletes continues as the National Olympic Committee prepares for the 2008 Beijing and the 2012 London Olympic Games. The TTOC has facilitated the admission of Candice SCOTT and Roger Daniel to elite training centers in their respective disciplines.

Scott is currently in Cuba ,where she will be based until next year.While Daniel is headed for Finland.

Talented cyclist Christopher Sellier is now at the UCI Elite training centre in Switzerland where he has performed at such a high standard that his stay has been extended to march 2007.Originally Sellier was scheduled to spend a month but at the request of the coaches at the centre the TTOC and IOC have agreed to extend his scholarship until March next year.

TTOC PRESIDENT Larry Romany said that the fact that the various centres have admitted the three T&T athletes bodes well for the future."Sellier has impressed so far with his attitude and work ethic,Candice and Roger are medal prospects for next years Pan Am Games and Beijing so this is a crucial period in their training programme"

The TTOC in the last decade have shifted it's focus away from selecting teams for the various games under its auspices to athlete and coach development.

"We are putting in place a Long term athlete development framework.this approach in my view is the way to go,it is holistic,sustainable and systemic" said Romany.

The TTOC is working closely with the Ministry of Sport and Youth affairs ,Sport Company of T&T and Corporate T&T and the International Olympic Committee(IOC)in an effort to source the required funding .

"The challenge locally is to get people to appreciate that producing elite level athletes is not a quick fix.It is a ten year,long term horizon"

Romany re affirmed the TTOC's commitment to athlete development."Proper preparation is vital and we are resolute in seeking opportunities to ensure that our athletes are properly prepared".

nov.16.2006

So far in 2006, Twenty-four local coaches have been sent on technical training courses by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC). The most recent to benefit is Jason Dennis of the T&T Volleyball Federation (TTVF) who attended a Beach volleyball coaching course in Brazil. Beach Volleyball have benefited from the participation of Daymian Stewart in a similar course last year.

TTVF President Mushtaque Mohammed believes that the knowledge gained by the two coaches will prove invaluable not only for the national team’s preparation for next year’s Pan Am games and the 2008 Beijing Olympics but also for the future development of beach volleyball in Trinidad and Tobago. The T&T Women beach volleyball is currently ranked 6th in the PAN Am region and the men 9th, rankings which will likely qualifying them for the 2007 Pan Am games in Rio, the other criteria that the teams will have to meet is the TTOC’s fitness standard.

Dennis said the course was extensive and beneficial ,topics covered included Training sessions and exercise structure, Training theory, Individual and team fundamentals - basic and advanced, Training plans, Physiology , physical conditioning and Team management and game strategies

dic.01.2006

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) President Larry Romany called on National Sport Organizations(NSOs) to get their "house in order".Romany was speaking at the launch of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs,Elite Athlete Financial Assistance programme held Thursday morning at the Chamber of Commerce Building,Columbus Circle,Westmooring.

Romany told the large gathering of sport administrators that the Government through the Ministry of Sport and The Sport Company is putting tremendous resources and support behind Sports in T&T.

The local Olympic chief however stated that NSOs will only be able to build on the support if they are well organized,transparent and accountable."Currently most of the NSOs must improve their administration.the TTOC is committed to supporting in whatever way we can but NSOs must want to improve".

Romany cautioned that Sport Development is not elitism and it is vital that sport administrators know and understand the difference."The programme launched this morning is an Elite programme with no room for mediocrity" .

He also expressed the view that development of sports is not the "job" of Government ."Government's role is to act as a facilitator,NSOs must take responsibility for developing their respective sports"said Romany.

dic.08.2006

On Sunday 3 December 2006 the National Triathlon Championship was held for the first time in Tobago as part of an initiative to promote awareness and develop the sport in the sister isle. The swim leg of the event took place at the popular Mt. Irvine Beach and was followed by the bike and run legs, that took place along Shirvan Road, a rolling but challenging course.

The event attracted persons of all ages, from Chelsea Mohammed in the 8 to 9 age group category to Stan Patinos, who at 58 participated in his first triathlon in the Try your First Triathlon category. Tobagonians were well represented in this category, sweeping the top three places : Neil Potts (1st), James London (2nd) and Henson Ottley (3rd). Alison Young was the first placed woman in the category.

The overall winner was Ryan Mendes, who chose to participate in the National Championship though he was still recovering from an arm fracture sustained in October in a mountain bike race in Canada. Mendes led from the start, emerging first from the water after a 22 minute swim. He would go on to finish the race in a time of 2 hours 18 minutes 8 seconds. Former National Triathlon Champion Jason Gooding finished in second place in a time of 2 hours 23 minutes 58 seconds. Ancil Greene was 3rd overall in a time of 2 hours 25 minutes 36 seconds. Veteran triathlete Jacqueline Jodhan was the overall winner for the women finishing in 3 hours 9 minutes 9 seconds.

In the Sprint distances Sebastien Paddington and Sean De Freitas finished in first and second respectively, with Rebecca John as the first place female in this division.

Among the juniors, Akil Baptiste was placed first in the 12 - 13 Age Group (Male) with Mark London, hailing from Tobago, finishing in second place. Léanne Eligon finished first in her age group (10 â?" 11 Female) with Kerlene Taylor-Alexander in second place. Adrielle Mahabir and Chelsea Mohammed placed first in the 14 â?" 15 and 8 â?" 9 age groups respectively.

The Relay event was won by a team from Trinidad : Michael Nyarko (swim), Rajendra Samaroo (bike) and Charles Quincy (run).

Following the event the T&T Triathlon Association thanked the Tobago House Assembly, Mr. Trim the Director of Sport and Ms. Tracy Davidson, the Assistant Secretary of Youth Affairs and Sport, for the support and sponsorship of the event, and Mrs. John, the Manager of Tourism.

The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs as well as Crystal Waters and BG came in for commendation for their co-sponsorship of the event as did the Tobago Fire Services who assisted on the day of the event.

The award ceremony for Tobago will take place on 18th December 2006 at the VIP Lounge in Shaw Park, Tobago. The award ceremony in Trinidad will take on 20th December at a venue to be announced.

dic.20.2006

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC)gala Annual Awards function will be held on Friday 29 December at the ballroom of the Cascadia Hotel, St Anns.

The TTOC will announce their Sportsman and Woman and Sports Personality of the year.

The Alexander Chapman Awardee for 2006 will also be unveiled.

The highly anticipated event is held annually on the 29th December.

The evening's proceedings will get underway at 6pm.

dic.28.2006

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) will host its first Pan Am Games fitness test on Saturday 30 December. Athletes from Badminton, Boxing, Hockey, Judo, Karate,Taekwondo, Table Tennis ,Tennis, Triathlon, and Volleyball are required to turn up at the Eastern Regional Complex indoor court .Testing will start at 6am and end at 9am.

Disciplines exempted are Archery,Athletics,Canoe/Kayaking,Cycling,Equestrian,Shooting , Swimming and Water polo,Wweightlifting.

The Pan Games will be held July 2007 in Rio De Janiero,Brazil.

TTOC Vice-President and Pan Am 2007 Chef de Mission Annette Knott said that all affiliates eligible to participate at the Pan Am Games were informed at a meeting held in October and reminded at the 30 November TTOC General Council meeting of the post Christmas fitness test.

Mrs Knott expressed her expectation that all athletes in line for selection would have been advised by their respective National Sport Organisation.

dic.30.2006

Commonwealth Games Bronze medalist sprinter Marc Burns and shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown won the 2006 Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year Awards at the TTOC's Annual Awards function held last night at the Cascadia Hotel in St Anns.

Burns won the Award last year and his consistent performances this year saw him finish the year ranked eleventh in the IAAF World 100 m rankings.The 23 year old speedster also won bronze at the World Cup.

Borel-Brown in addition to taking the Bronze medal in Melbourne at the Commonwealth Games also captured Bronze at the CAC Games in Cartagena,Colombia.Brown finished the year ranked 13th on the IAAF ranking list.

World Junior 400M gold medalist Renny Quow was announced as the TTOC Junior Sportsman of the year while World Junior long jump champion Rhonda Watkins won the Junior Sportswoman of the year.The junior sportsman and woman awarded is a new addition to the TTOC Awards function.

T&T Senior National football team captain won the Sport Personality of the year award.Dr Iva Gloudon was announced as the TTOC's International Olympic Committee(IOC) Women in Sport Award nominee.

Roman Catholic Priest Fr Jason Gordon was presented with the Alexander B.Chapman Award for his use of sport in curbing gang warfare in the Gonzales Community .

Shaka Hislop delivered the keynote address.Senator Joan Yuille-Williams ,The Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs addressed the distinguished gathering as did TTOC ,President Larry Romany.

The 9th TTOC Annual Awards function was well attended guest included Permanant Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Lynette Felix-Henry,Tobago House of Assembly, Director of Sport ,Theophilus Trim,Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport,Ashwin Creed .

TTOC Secretary-General Brian Lewis in his welcome address announced that the TTOC had accepted the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB)as a TTOC affiliate.

ene.05.2007

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) will hold a PAN AM Games manager's meeting on Tuesday 9 January at Olympic House .The agenda for the meeting includes Updated Qualification information, Completion of Athletes Information forms, Completion of forms for and support staff , Accreditation information, Travel information and Beep testing.

Pan Am Chef de Mission Annette Knott will chair the meeting which gets underway at 5pm.

The first PAN AM meeting was held last October.

Meanwhile in other TTOC news the National Olympic Committee held its first Pan Am games fitness test over the Xmas holidays. But according to TTOC Secretary General Brian Lewis turn out on 30 December at the Eastern Indoor Complex at Tacarigua was disappointing and the general attitude of those who turned up was unacceptable.

"The TTOC first instituted fitness testing in 1997 by now it should be an accepted part of our criteria.Those who are not prepared to do the work necessary should ask to be withdrawn from consideration.Pan Am games is not a development games "said Lewis.

Lewis noted some disciplines did not have any athletes present while others had just about fifty percent of their squad present.

The TTOC have scheduled four fitness test and athletes are required to pass the criteria a minimum of three times.

The TTOC Official cautioned that the fitness criteria is not optional but mandatory.

The 2007 Pan Am Games will be held in July in Rio De Janiero, Brazil.

ene.07.2007

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) is expecting a record medal haul at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in July.

Secretary-General Brian Lewis made public the National Olympic Committee's objective while bringing greetings on behalf of the TTOC at the National Amateur Athletics Association, Annual Award function at the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Saturday.

Lewis said that the level of funding been given to Elite athletes both by the Government and the TTOC is providing the necessary support."The bar must be raised, we are excited and confident that T&T will set new medal records in Rio this year and Beijing in 2008".

The TTOC Official also called on National Sport Organizations(NSO) to "seize the moment" and be more transparent and accountable in light of the unprecedented level of funding been provided by the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company of T&T.

"If we don't improve the administrative and managerial infrastructure and capacity we run the risk of frittering away the sustainable benefits of the current funding levels.We have a responsibility to the youth of the nation and the next generation of athletes to get it right"

Lewis also touched on the Tarouba Complex stating that the TTOC supports Tarouba and looks forward in 2007 to the implementation and execution of the Tarouba plan."I know Tarouba has its critics but the high level training centre is necessary and needed "said Lewis.

ene.11.2007

Trinidad and Tobago Rugby will enjoy a resurgence in 2007 that is the bold prediction by Brian Lewis the TTRFU Secretary.

T&T Rugby has fallen from grace,dislodged from the number one ranking in the Caribbean by Guyana and Jamaica at various levels.Lewis though is convinced that T&T Rugby is on the way back.

"The signs are there that we are coming out of the transistion period that followed the retirement of a number of players from the National team in the last six years.More importantly the Schools Union introduction of New Image rugby has sparked a resurgence of interest in rugby in the schools "

The TTRFU also has a Youth Development programme that is bearing fruit."That programme is bringing to the fore untapped talent outside of Port.of.Spain and environs.We now need to further the work in deep South,Toco ,Sande Grande to name a few areas.Our emphasis in the coming years will be the communities it is the backbone of our development programme. Tobago is going to be a very important part of our plans"

In addition the TTRFU is developing the next generation of local coaching talent with the appointment of eight Youth Development Officers.(YDOs).

The TTRFU official acknowledges that there are those in the local rugby fraternity who have a more pessimistic view ."There are those who see the defeats against Guyana and Jamaica as the benchmark.I can understand and respect their perspective.But to be fair Guyana and Jamaica deserve their success.They are doing what needs to be done.They are unearthing fast,strong and powerful athletes who have tremendous national pride and desire with a work ethic that is second to none"

In Trinidad and Tobago rugby is in an uphill battle with football,track and field,basketball,volleyball and cricket to name a few for the athletic talent needed to make a mark in modern International sport.

But the TTRFU is forging ahead undaunted in the belief that their sport just has to work harder,be more innovative and creative in marketing and promoting itself."It is a physical contact sport to play it and enjoy it you have to be unafraid of physical contact.Not everyone,no matter how talented is cut out for that."added Lewis

The TTRFU will soon launch its first ever strategic marketing and promotion plan that includes among other things getting the sport shown on local television.

Rugby will be centre stage come later this year when the IRB Rugby World Cup takes place in Paris,France.

By then T&T would have participated in the Caribbean Rugby Championships.The Under 18s will be held in Cayman Islands in July.While the men and women senior National teams will have to travel to Cayman in late August for the Senior 15 Championship.

The TTRFU will have to foot a significant bill but the local Rugby Union has already meet with the Ministry of Sport with a view to securing financial assistance towards this country's Caribbean Rugby Championship obligations.

Curtis Nero the TTRFU Treasuer revealed that it will cost the TTRFU approximately 1.2 million TT dollars to participate at all four Caribbean Championships in 2007 included in that estimate is the Caribbean 7s Rugby Championship which will be held in Bahamas in November.

Nero who is also the TTRFU Chairman of Selectors is confident that the TTRFU will raise the required funding.

"Those tournaments are critical in the context of our development plans and objectives of qualifying for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and the Rugby World Cup 7s final in the next three years and our intention to regain the Caribbean number one ranking and a NAWIRA top three ranking behind Canada and the USA this year."ended Nero.

ene.14.2007

"It is something I have spoken about not only in the Pro League but at the level of the TTOC also.It is a knowledge gap that the TTOC has been working on closing for the last ten years"

The Pro League chief revealed that the Pro League will use its player and coach development programme as the forum to address the issue in 2007.

"There are nuances such as rest and recovery,evaluation and assessment. An awareness of these concepts must be brought into the equation.Players and coaches must have an appreciation and knowledge of basic exercise physiology".

Romany called on the nation's athletes to take greater responsibility and accountability for their fitness.

"All sportsmen and women be they football,netball,hockey,tennis or rugby players must take personal responsibility for raising their overall fitness levels"said Romany.

ene.18.2007

The T&T Olympic Committee(TTOC) have entered a team in the CLICO 5K. Fifteen teenagers, members of the TTOC's Olympic Youth camp will represent the national Olympic Committee.

The TTOC Olympic Youth camp takes place annually during the summer holidays.Tanya Western a member of the TTOC Olympic Academy,Education and Culture Committee(OAEC) said that the young athletes use their participation in the 5k to promote and encourage their peers to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to test their fitness levels .

The Olympic youth campers for the 5K are:

Tamelia Baptiste
Anthony Bravo
Alena Krissy Brooks
Tariq Cheekes
Hanifah Coltes
Alliana Gonzales
Anika Johnson
Aasan Lewis
La Toya Providence
Dwayne Salazar
Rysel Slater
Petrina Wallace
Simon Wilkes
Quincy Wilson

ene.21.2007

T&T Olympic Committee(TTOC) President Larry Romany has extended congratulations to the T&T football team on the teams qualification for the Digicel Cup final.

Romany said that the team led by Denzil Theobald has shown that the doubts expressed by many going into the tournament were unfounded."The young men have stepped up to the plate and grabbed the opportunity.There is a lot of room for improvement but their performance to date augurs well for the future".

The National Olympic chief however urged the Soca Warriors not to get complacent as Haiti will prove tough opponents in Tuesday's final.

Romany believes that the public should throw their full support behind the team."I would like to see the Hasely Crawford stadium sold out on Tuesday and a sea of red. Let the team know that they have the support of the nation"added Romany.

feb.08.2007

"At the Awards when I heard they called the most experienced local FIFA referees Neil Brizan and Lee Davis I asked myself, what am I doing on that list," said Referee of the Year Shane De Silva.

Shane De Silva was awarded the Referee of the Year award at the 2006 TT Pro League Awards Ceremony on Saturday night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, P.O.S.

Shane De Silva, a full time school teacher became the first woman to be named Referee of the Year, she told ttproleague.com, "When I heard my name called as the Referee of the Year I was so elated at the moment and to know that I am the first ever female to win the award, it makes it even more special. I had edged two of the top local referees and that was such a great feeling. This award speaks a lot for women in a man's world," said De Silva.

Shane who has been refereeing for the past twelve years and she has been on the FIFA panel for the last four years says that it was never an objective of hers to win the Award, "I had never looked forward to winning such an award. As a referee my main objective was to go out and give my best on the field of play because in the Pro League teams are playing for the top prizes locally and they deserve a fair match."

"The feedback I would get from the Pro League teams is great. They were always very pleased with my performance winning or losing and that is something I am always proud of," said the modest Referee of the Year.

De Silva, is also a former National and West Indies Cricketer teaches at the Hochoy Memisa Special School and says she isn't looking to quit refereeing any time soon, "I don't see myself retiring any time soon as a referee. I would probably stay on the international scene for another five years," ended the 2006 Referee of the Year.

FIFA Referees Neil Brizan and Lee Davis were both nominated for the Referee of the Year award while Lyndon Burton was awarded the Assistant Referee of the Year Award.

feb.08.2007

Wayne Kelly, the 2006 TTRFU, Rugby player of the year says he is honoured and privileged to be rugby's nominee at the First Citizens Sportsman of the year award.

The Harvard rugby team flanker admitted that he was surprised to win the prestigious rugby award."I know I had a great year for my club,the highlight was our defeat of Trinidad Northern in the Marcus Minshall quarter final round. My coach [Larry Mendez] demands a lot of me and I tried all season to answer his call and that of my team.But winning the player of the year was not a goal for me. Contributing to Harvard having a winning season and retaining my place on the National rugby team were my objectives" said Kelly.

The Morvant resident started playing rugby four years ago at the insistence of boy hood friend Jason Kalloo. "I played football and basketball but Jason encouraged me to try rugby. I did and fell in love with the sport. I love everything about the game,tackling most of all and scoring tries".

The 2006 rugby season however had its low moments for Kelly who was dropped from the T&T rugby team , a major disappointment for a young man who took great pride in wearing the National colours. "It was not for loss of form or anything performance related. I just could not get time off from work to regularly attend National training. I cannot express the hurt I felt when Mr Nero [TTRFU ,Chairman of Selectors]told me I was not selected. I am hoping it does not happen this year"added Kelly.

Kelly also revealed that Harvard's loss to Caribs in the knockout semi finals along with defeat to Rainbow in the Classic Caterers 7s final count as other low points for him. "I had sleepless nights thinking about those two games "

As he looks ahead to the 2007 season Kelly said he is motivated to work even harder to ensure that he fulfills his potential and avoid complacency.

"Winning one rugby player of the year award does not make me great. I still have a lot to learn technically and tactically. I also have to improve my fitness. My goal this year is to help Harvard win the Sportflex Championship and T&T win the Caribbean 15 and 7s rugby Championship"

feb.23.2007

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC)President says the fantastic response to the coaching Certification course that the TTOC is hosting under the auspices of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees( CANOC) reflects the recognition by National Sport Organisations and coaches that the sport landscape has changed and coaches in the modern sport environment are now required to pay close attention to details such as diet ,lifestyle and fitness regime.

The National Olympic head revealed that the original plan was to limit the course to twenty-five coaches so as to allow for greater interaction,however with some fifty-one coaches applying,The TTOC will increase the allocation to twenty-nine for the course beginning on Saturday and schedule another course to begin at the ned of March.

The Caribbean Coaching Certificate Programme will take place over a four day period, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th February and Saturday 03rd and Sunday 4th March 2007.

Evaluation date is 10th March 2007.

The course will be held at the Lystra Lewis Conference Room at the Jean Pierre complex.

Course times are from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm daily and will cover basic coaching themes which include:

The role of the coach Planning training sessions and programmes Developing coaching skills Fitness & Nutrition Event planning and Management Sport for persons with Disabilities Course cost is TT$250.00 - Covers cost of registration, meals and course materials

Workbooks and manuals will be provided for all coaches.

Download - TTOC Coaching Course Informative

feb.25.2007

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee's(TTOC) efforts to improve the standard of coaching in Trinidad and Tobago has been commended by coaches and prospective coaches attending the TTOC/CANOC coaching certification course which began on Saturday at the Lystra Lewis Administration center at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Former National long jumper and CAC Games gold medalist Wendell Williams commented that the first session was very informative." It confirms and re-enforced a lot of things I learned in Germany"

Peter Burnett,a rugby Youth development officer from Marabella said that the move to get local coaches certified is an important step."Although it is not rugby specific,it addresses the generic principles that all coaches must know about.I am looking forward to learning how to design a proper training and nutrition programme"said Burnett.Olympian Cheryl-Ann Sankar also commented favourably on her first day experience.

In delivering the opening address on Saturday,TTOC,President ,Larry Romany lauded the coaches in attendance for their commitment to learning and improving.Romany pointed out that the only way T&T will consistently produce world class sportsmen and women is if the country has a cadre of world class,well trained coaches.He however cautioned those present to be mindful that,it is not only at the elite level that world class coaches will be needed but also at the developmental stage.

"Too many coaches gravitate to the perceived glamour of the Elite level, proper coaching at the early stage level is just as or even more important"added Romany.

David Benjamin is the master course conductor supervising the TTOC/Canoc course which was over-subscribed.

Charisse Broome ,Administrative Officer at the TTOC office assured that the Local Olympic Committee will host a second course in April.

Fifty -one persons applied to take the course which is limited to twenty-five participants .The limit on numbers according to Broome ,is to facilitate quality interaction between the participants and facilitators.

feb.28.2007

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) and Olympic Solidarity are encouraged by recent performances by cyclist Christopher Sellier at the World Cup Cycling Championship in Manchester, England.

Sellier who is on a TTOC/Olympic Solidarity programme has been based in Switzerland since October 2006 where he is expected to remain until the end of March.

Last Saturday,the talented 20 year old national cycling champion in the match sprint,kilometer time trial and individual pursuit clocked a 10.651 seconds time in the flying 200 meter.

"Sellier is making good progress, we are accountable to the IOC and Olympic Solidarity and must strive to make credible and transparent recommendations, that will stand close and objective scrutiny".said Brian Lewis,TTOC Secretary General.

In addition to the IOC and Olympic Solidarity,the TTOC is working closely with the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to provide financial assistance to elite Olympic level athletes.

The TTOC admits receiving numerous requests for funding but with the focus on the upcoming PAN AM and Olympic games a review will be conducted following an assessment of performances in Rio.Priority will then be placed on athletes who have either qualified or still have a realistic chance of qualifying for the Beijing Olympic Games.

The TTOC Official urged National Sport Organizations to be credible in putting forward and supporting funding requests pointing out that if the efforts to provide an enabling environment for local athletes and coaches is to be sustained there must be transparency and objectivity.

"People must not buy into the ole talk that money is giving away and hence operate with a sense of entitlement.Expectations must be managed".

mar.06.2007

Five state of the art, fully equipped sports medicine bags were donated to the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) and four of its affiliates at a press conference on Monday 05th March at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The Canadian High Commission contributed the sports medicine bags and TT$11,000 under the Canada Fund to the TTOC, athletics, cricket, football and volleyball to assist their medical staff in providing improved and high quality medical care and treatment to athletes and spectators at local and international sporting events and competitions.

President of the Olympic Committee, Michael Romany informed those present, that the medical bags will be of tremendous benefit to the chosen Associations, since each represented greater participation levels in Trinidad and Tobago.

Additionally, Romany was happy to support the donation to these affiliates as over time, they have demonstrated effective organization and accountability in the management of their association and sport and he was therefore assured that the medicine bags would be put to good use.

His Excellency, the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. Howard Strauss, was pleased to offer support to the Olympic Associations in this way, in recognition of the growing importance of sporting events and its resulting positive impact on employment, economic growth and social development and said that the bags will contribute to the health security of players and the public alike.

Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board, Mr. Forbes Persaud was elated with the contribution and mentioned that the cricket medical staff did not have such an expansive and complete sports medicine resource to work from until now.

Romany expressed his gratitude to the High Commissioner for the donation and asserted that the money will be used by the TTOC to deliver medical training for sports medicine practitioners.

Dr. Terry Ali, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Sports Medicine Association, accepted the medical bags on behalf of the TTOC.

First row from left to right: June Durham, medical team therapist; Oliver Camps, President, Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation; His Excellency, the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. Howard Strauss; Dr. Terry Ali, President Trinidad & Tobago Sports Medicine Association; Mr. Mushtaque Mohammed, President, Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation and Vice President, TTOC; Mr. Forbes Persaud, General Secretary, Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board.

Back row from left to right: Michael Romany, President, TTOC; Dexter Voisin, Assistant Secretary General, Trinidad & Tobago National Amateur Athletics Association; Ian Sharpe, medical team therpist and Paul Newallo, Director of Sport and Physical Education, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs