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

jul.05.2007

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) does not consider the High court ruling in its favour a cause for celebration but rather an opportunity for reflection.

Mr Takoor Sankar, a shooter, exercised his constitutional right as a citizen of T&T to seek a hearing before the High Court challenging the Pan American games selection decision.

While the TTOC and IOC constitutions are clear and unambiguous (1)as to the TTOC's autonomy in regard to selecting its teams for games and (2)the process for dispute resolution. The TTOC respected Mr.Sankar's decision.

The TTOC therefore had no reservation in subjecting its selection process to the scrutiny of the Judicial system.No organization should be above the rule of law. Accordingly the TTOC remained confident that it acted in a reasonable ,rational ,impartial and transparent manner and in accord with its own constitution and of the International Olympic Committee(IOC), Pan American Sport Organization(PASO)and TTOC. Additionally the communication and information received from the Rio 2007 Organizing Committee also guided the TTOC in its selection deliberations.

It is important however that the lessons learned from this situation be taken on board.In this regard the TTOC is encouraged by the TRA's expressed intention to improve its scoring system.

The Pan American games administrative preparations began in October 2006. At the first meeting the TTOC held (October 2006)with Affiliates the Pan American games technical manual was distributed to all in attendance including the TRA representative.

The technical manual outlined the selection process established by the RIO 2007 Organizing Committee in collaboration with the International and regional federation for shooting.The TTOC's expectation is that the respective affiliates would inform their athletes and coaches. The court documents as filed by Mr.Sankar indicated that information on the selection process as outlined in the technical manual was not passed on to Mr.Sankar.

Following the end of the court matter on Wednesday 4 July.Both the TTOC President Larry Romany and Secretary General Brian Lewis spoke with Mr.Sankar in the presence of his coach Mr Brent Thomas and assured the athlete that once he complies with all the TTOC disbursement requirements he will continue to receive assistance from the NOC in particular in his efforts to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.

jul.06.2007

Simplified voting process for the Olympic programme The process of the choice of sports to be on the Olympic programme will be simplified in future following a decision taken today by the 119th IOC Session in Guatemala City, upon proposal of the IOC Executive Board (EB). Paragraphs in the Olympic Charter will be changed accordingly.

Until today’s change in the regulations, while it took only a simple majority for a sport to be removed from the programme, two-thirds was needed to add a new sport. The new rules simplify the voting procedure by requiring a simple majority for both inclusion and exclusion.

The number of core sports has been increased from 15 to 25 from the Games of 2020 onwards. For the 2016 Games of the Olympiad, the 26 core sports from London 2012 will be proposed. The maximum number of sports included in the programme remains capped at 28. In the future, the Session will cast a bloc vote for 25 core summer sports, proposed by the EB. These 25 core sports will need a simple majority to be included in the Olympic programme. If no majority is reached to vote for the core, additional rounds of votes by the Session, determined by the President, will be implemented. IOC President Jacques Rogge complimented this new system for "providing a better flexibility to change the Olympic programme through the introduction of up to three new sports".

How this will work for the Olympic Winter Games Seven core sports will be included in the programme for the Olympic Winter Games. The voting procedure by the Session for these seven winter sports is the same as for the summer sports. Today, the Session applied the bloc vote for the first time and voted for the seven core sports to be on the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, of which Sochi was elected as host city two days ago.

Today's changes come after a long journey of evaluation and consultation, dating back to just after the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Time was taken to ensure thorough consultation with the International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), Recognised Federations and the Athletes’ Commission before proposals for change were put first to the IOC Executive Board and then subsequently to IOC members.

Source: www.olympic.org

jul.06.2007

Teething problems are part and parcel of the build up and drama of hosting multi-sport games, rare is the host nation that have escaped, call it Murphy's law or poor execution. The shear scale of an Olympic, Pan American, CAC or Commonwealth Games will stretch and strain the resources, efficency, effectiveness and capacity of the best event planners.

The 15th Pan American games is no exception. T&T Chef de Mission Annette Knott like those who have gone before her will have her stories that with the passage of time will on reflection provide a good laugh. At the moment, however, with 24 T&T athletes from the disciplines of Beach Volleyball Badminton Hockey and Shooting already in Rio. It is no laughing matter.

The early arrivals turned up after a long journey from Trinidad via Miami where they encountered delays at the Miami airport due to heightened airport security following recent failed bombing incidents in England and Scotland.

But teething problems aside everyone is in good spirits as the atmosphere at the Pan Am Games athletes village coupled with the excitement and anticipation as opening day draws near is affecting everyone.

The Rio 2007 Organizers are working non stop to complete the games village and competition venues ahead of the 13 July opening ceremony. The T&T team in the meanwhile have access to the training venues(at least those that are completed).

Over the next few days more T&T athletes are expected to arrive in Rio including 6 junior track and field athletes participating at the IAAF World Junior Games in Sao Paulo who have also been selected for the Pan American games.

T&T's Chef de Mission, Annette Knott has confirmed that the the Trinidad and Tobago opening ceremony parade team will include athletes and officials from Athletics, Badminton Beach Volleyball, Boxing Hockey Swimming, Taekwondo and Weightlifting.

jul.08.2007

It is the dream of many around the world.Savouring the sights and scenes of the iconic Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro.But T&T's female beach volleyball team comprising Nancy Joesph and Elke Phillip must be wondering what all the fuss is about.

Since arriving in Brazil, Copacabana means nothing more than grueling two a day training sessions that leave the duo too drained to relax and enjoy the postcard version of the world famous beach.

For their fellow teammates on the 15th Pan American games multi-sport T&T team it is much the same, little time for sightseeing. But Chef de Mission, Annette Knott told www.ttoc.org, "every one is in good spirits and very focused. The athletes know why they are here. If they are to give their best they cannot afford distractions".

Today the Trinidad and Tobago Team will welcome to the Pan American Village, Pan Am Junior track and field championships gold medalist Keston Bledman and other medalist including Jamaal James, Zwede Hewitt, Britney St Louis, Semoy Hackett and Jeneil Bellille.

The Junior track and field athletes boasting a 10 medal haul are flying from Sao Paulo host city for the Pan Am Junior Track and Field championships.

According to Knott things are taking shape as the count down to the 13 July opening ceremony accelerates. "Over the next three days the 2140 athletes and officials now in the village will to grow to 5000 plus"she said.

On Tuesday, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Mrs. Margaret Farray will visit the Pan American Village where she is expected to spend some time with the T&T delegation.

jul.09.2007

The Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee's Olympic Academy will host its Fifth Olympic Youth Camp, from August 2nd to 11 2007 at the Media Room of the Hasley Crawford Stadium, Wrightson Road Port of Spain.

The Olympic Youth Camp is a non-residential daytime camp for young male and female athletes between the ages of 12-16 years.

Since its inauguration in 2003 the TTOC's Olympic youth camp is now a popular summer time event.However in an effort to ensure quality interaction the TTOC limits the camp to forty participants.

Since its inauguration in 2003 the TTOC's Olympic youth camp is now a popular summer time event.However in an effort to ensure quality interaction the TTOC limits the camp to forty participants.

The Camp is not sport specific but in keeping with the original Greek Gymnasium concept will adopt a holistic approach.

Topics include the Olympic Movement, Olympism, The Olympic Games, Sport and the Environment, Creative Writing, Ball Room Dancing, Exercise Physiology, Nutrition, Goal Setting, Conflict Resolution, Ethics, Etiquette, Sport and the Environment, Media Training and many exciting sporting activities

The goal of the Olympic Youth Camp is to instill the values of Olympism and to foster greater enjoyment , self confidence, team spirit and fairplay among young athletes.

Larry Romany the TTOC president has acknowledged that the TTOC Olympic youth camp would not be a success with out the committment and support of Olympic Solidarity."The people at Olympic Solidarity understood our vision and from day one supported the project.It would have been difficult for us to develop and expand the camp with out their help"

Editor's note:

The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a better and more peaceful world by educating young people through sport free of discrimination and in the Olympic Spirit. This requires a mutual understanding in the spirit of friendship, unity and fairplay.

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee recognizes and commits to its obligation to develop and protect the Olympic Movement in Trinidad & Tobago in accordance with the Olympic Charter.

In this regard the Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee has established the Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Academy (TTOA), which will work within The TTOC to maintain Olympism and the Olympic Charter at the Foundation of the TTOCs governance, management and membership. Thus through the annual youth camp and other such activities the TTOC hopes to facilitate the achievement of the Olympic ideals and in so doing work towards producing the next generation of Olympians.

jul.24.2007

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC)5th Annual Olympic Youth Camp will get underway on the 2nd August and end on the 11th August.

With space limited to forty participants between the ages of 12 and 17 the popularity of the TTOC camp extends beyond its affiliates.A trend that is both good news and bad news for the national Olympic Committee.

The Director of the TTOC Olympic Academy,TTOC Secretary General Brian Lewis lamented the tardiness of TTOC affiliates in registering their young athletes describing it is an annual ritual."Every year our(TTOC) affiliates jeopardize the participation of their deserving young athletes.With the increased interest from the general public and sports minded youngsters reserving places for affiliates is becoming harder.This is very unfortunate because the benefits of attending are tremendous".

Lewis also pointed out that the two TTOC representatives at next years Olympic Youth Camp in Beijing ,China will come from TTOC Olympic Youth Campers.

Editor's note:

First held in 2003 ,The TTOC Olympic Youth Camp is not sport specific but adopts a holistic approach in keeping with the original Greek Gymnasium concept.

Topics include the Olympic Movement, Olympism, The Olympic Games, Sport and the Environment,Art,Career planning, Creative Writing, Ball Room Dancing, Exercise Physiology, Nutrition, Goal Setting, Conflict Resolution, Ethics, Etiquette, Media Training.Campers also get the opportunity to meet and interact with leading sport and business personalities.

The goal of the Olympic Youth Camp is to instill the values of Olympism and to foster greater enjoyment , self confidence, team spirit and fair play among young athletes.

jul.24.2007

jul.31.2007

The inclusion of rugby 7s on the programme of the 2011 Guadalajara,Pan American Games will boost the image of rugby in the Americas.That is the view of Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) President Larry Romany.

Romany said although rugby 7s is on the Commonwealth Games programme the benefit of getting onto the Pan American games programme includes the possibility that National Olympic Committees may be encouraged to assist the development of the sport through Pan American Sport Organization (PASO )grants and coaching scholarships.

The T&T Olympic chief believes that rugby's Olympic credentials will be enhanced with increased acceptance of the sport in South and Central America, and the Caribbean.He however cautions that the sport cannot be complacent.

"The International Rugby Board(IRB) and its regional body will have to be proactive if rugby is to have an impressive debut in Mexico in 2011.The four years leading up to Guadalajara is important.Rugby will have to be promoted and developed in PASO countries .Rugby seized the day when given the chance on the 1998 Commonwealth programme and never looked back.It will have to do the same in Guadalajara"

Romany however expressed the hope that the IRB will make an effort to ensure that the qualification process is inclusive."It was difficult for Caribbean rugby teams to qualify for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games .The public image and popularity of the sport of rugby in the Caribbean will benefit from Commonwealth and Pan American participation."added Romany.

ago.01.2007

The president of the Organizing Committee of the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007 (CO-RIO) and of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), Carlos Arthur Nuzman, CO-RIO’s Secretary-General, Carlos Roberto Osório, and CO-RIO’s and COB’s Marketing Director, Leonardo Gryner, presented, this Monday, July 30th, an evaluation of the XV Pan American Games organization.

According to CO-RIO’s evaluation, RIO 2007 raised the standards of the Pan American Games confirming that the city is more than ready to host big international events. “The successful organization of this Pan American Games provided the International Olympic Committee with enough evidence that we are capable of hosting big international events such as the Olympic Games”, said Nuzman.

Besides the legacy of sports venues left to the city and to the country, security and transportation were pointed out as the highlights of the organizing effort. “The Games shifted many paradigms. We were able to mobilize an amazing team of volunteers, the city’s transportation grid fully absorbed the new influx of passengers and vehicles, the personnel accreditation was very successful and the collaboration between local, state and federal government was unprecedented. This project transformed Brazilian sport”, analyzed Nuzman.

The president of CO-RIO also brought up that many families have been refraining from attending sports events because of the violence. But during the Games, these families have chosen to return to the Stadiums. “The audience’s contribution was paramount to the success of the Games; we sold over one million tickets relative to competitions of all the Pan American disciplines”,

CO-RIO’s Secretary-General, Carlos Roberto Osório, called attention to the athlete’s assessment about the high level of the competitions held during the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007. “The athletes and coaches praised the Olympic standards of the competitions and also approved the quality of the venues, corroborating that our main goal, the development of the American Sports, was achieved with excellence. In this edition of the Games, 123 Pan American records have been broken”, recalled Osório.

Another relevant aspect about the organization of the Rio 2007 Games was the behavioral shift about the consumption of sports events. “It’s sports’ economic legacy. Comprised of a sponsorship program, ticket sales, concessions, licensing policies, and the selling of more than 700 products from 42 companies, the marketing strategy of these Games exceeded everyone’s expectations”, said the Marketing Director.

source: www.rio2007.org.br

ago.01.2007

The president of the Organizing Committee of the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007 (CO-RIO) and of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB), Carlos Arthur Nuzman, CO-RIO’s Secretary-General, Carlos Roberto Osório, and CO-RIO’s and COB’s Marketing Director, Leonardo Gryner, presented, this Monday, July 30th, an evaluation of the XV Pan American Games organization.

According to CO-RIO’s evaluation, RIO 2007 raised the standards of the Pan American Games confirming that the city is more than ready to host big international events. “The successful organization of this Pan American Games provided the International Olympic Committee with enough evidence that we are capable of hosting big international events such as the Olympic Games”, said Nuzman.

Besides the legacy of sports venues left to the city and to the country, security and transportation were pointed out as the highlights of the organizing effort. “The Games shifted many paradigms. We were able to mobilize an amazing team of volunteers, the city’s transportation grid fully absorbed the new influx of passengers and vehicles, the personnel accreditation was very successful and the collaboration between local, state and federal government was unprecedented. This project transformed Brazilian sport”, analyzed Nuzman.

The president of CO-RIO also brought up that many families have been refraining from attending sports events because of the violence. But during the Games, these families have chosen to return to the Stadiums. “The audience’s contribution was paramount to the success of the Games; we sold over one million tickets relative to competitions of all the Pan American disciplines”,

CO-RIO’s Secretary-General, Carlos Roberto Osório, called attention to the athlete’s assessment about the high level of the competitions held during the XV Pan American Games Rio 2007. “The athletes and coaches praised the Olympic standards of the competitions and also approved the quality of the venues, corroborating that our main goal, the development of the American Sports, was achieved with excellence. In this edition of the Games, 123 Pan American records have been broken”, recalled Osório.

Another relevant aspect about the organization of the Rio 2007 Games was the behavioral shift about the consumption of sports events. “It’s sports’ economic legacy. Comprised of a sponsorship program, ticket sales, concessions, licensing policies, and the selling of more than 700 products from 42 companies, the marketing strategy of these Games exceeded everyone’s expectations”, said the Marketing Director.

source: www.rio2007.org.br

ago.03.2007

Almost all venues are completed. Volunteer recruitment is underway. Tickets are on sale around the world. The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are now just over one year away.

“The excitement is mounting” says IOC Coordination Commission Chairman Hein Verbruggen. “But there is still a lot of work to do of course! I am happy to say that, today, with only one year remaining, we are in a very positive position and are confident in BOCOG’s ability to deliver top-quality Olympic Games.” He continued, “We are seeing the physical element of the Games becoming a reality with magnificent new stadiums being completed and put to use, and thanks to the “Good Luck Beijing” sports events, BOCOG is currently working to fine tune its operations ahead of next year’s Games.”

Construction of all the competition venues for the Games will be completed by the end of this year, except for the National Stadium, which will be completed early in 2008. As they are finalised, these new, renovated or temporary installations are being put into operation and tested in the context of the “Good Luck Beijing” sports events, where competitions in different sports are used to test not only the venues but also certain operational aspects of the Games’ preparations.

Beyond the stadiums and physical testing of the Games venues and operational plans, Beijing 2008 is also experiencing tremendous success in the public domain. Ticket sales, the first phase of which started on 15 April 2007, have seen tremendous interest in both China and overseas, with more than 700,000 ticket applications having been placed for 4.9 million tickets when phase one closed on 30 June. The second phase will begin in October 2007. Also in the field of volunteer recruitment for the Games, Beijing 2008 is seeing massive interest, with over 530,000 people having applied to become Games time volunteers.

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad – Beijing 2008 will take place from 8 to 24 August 2008. The Games in Beijing will play host to the 28 summer sports currently on the Olympic programme. Approximately 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the Games with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to the world.

ago.05.2007

About 800 teenagers, including 50 physically challenged youth, from across the world will attend the Olympic Youth Camp (OYC) during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Disabled youths will take part in such an exercise for the first time in OYC's history.

Every National Olympic Committee will send a girl and a boy to the 21-day camp, which will be held from August 6-26, 2008 at the China Youth Center for International Exchange.

Aged between 16 and 18 years,the youths will get a first-hand experience of the Olympic ideals of peace, enterprise, teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play and participation as well as the unique Chinese culture.

They will watch the Games, visit the Olympic Village, stay with local families, travel to famous historical sites and learn Chinese Kongfu and calligraphy, among other things. Some of them will participate in the Olympic torch relay, too, attend the 2008 Games’ Opening and Closing Ceremonies and sports events.

The concept of the youth camp originated at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, when King Gustav V invited 1,500 Boy Scouts to set up tents near the Olympic Stadium. There were no more camps after that till another Scandinavian city, Helsinki, took up the idea in 1952. The experience proved so successful that an OYC has been held during every Olympic Games after that, except in Melbourne (1956) and Los Angeles (1984).

ago.05.2007

About 800 teenagers, including 50 physically challenged youth, from across the world will attend the Olympic Youth Camp (OYC) during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Disabled youths will take part in such an exercise for the first time in OYC's history.

Every National Olympic Committee will send a girl and a boy to the 21-day camp, which will be held from August 6-26, 2008 at the China Youth Center for International Exchange.

Aged between 16 and 18 years,the youths will get a first-hand experience of the Olympic ideals of peace, enterprise, teamwork, sportsmanship, fair play and participation as well as the unique Chinese culture.

They will watch the Games, visit the Olympic Village, stay with local families, travel to famous historical sites and learn Chinese Kongfu and calligraphy, among other things. Some of them will participate in the Olympic torch relay, too, attend the 2008 Games’ Opening and Closing Ceremonies and sports events.

The concept of the youth camp originated at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, when King Gustav V invited 1,500 Boy Scouts to set up tents near the Olympic Stadium. There were no more camps after that till another Scandinavian city, Helsinki, took up the idea in 1952. The experience proved so successful that an OYC has been held during every Olympic Games after that, except in Melbourne (1956) and Los Angeles (1984).

ago.09.2007

The closing ceremony of 5th Annual TTOC OLympic Youth Camp will be held on Saturday 11th August at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Athlete's lounge. The ceremony starts at 2pm.

The TTOC Olympic Youth Camp is a nine day non-residential daytime camp for young male and female athletes between the ages of 12-17 years.

Since its inauguration in 2003 ,the TTOC, in an effort to ensure quality interaction limits the camp to forty participants.

The goal of the Olympic Youth Camp is to instill the values of Olympism and to foster greater enjoyment, self confidence, team spirit and fair play among young athletes.

ago.09.2007

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) President Larry Romany is currently in Beijing, China.

Romany is in the Olympic city on a fact finding mission,visiting venues and holding meetings with Chinese Olympic officials and management staff, as part of the TTOC's strategic planning ahead of next year's Olympic Games.

Beijing, is expected to be hot and humid and some countries have expressed concerns about pollution.

However Romany said planning is "key" and assured that the TTOC is working backwards from the Olympic schedule to make certain there are "no surprises" in store for the T&T delegation.

"We intend to cover all the bases; competitions, training, rest days, pre-Olympic training camp, flights to Beijing, the stay in the village etc".

Romany however expressed the hope that the National Sport Organizations and their respective athletes will fully co-operate with the TTOC.

"In the past the attention to detail may not have been what I would have expected.Every one must be on the same page. The Olympic Games is the focus. If that is the case ,then all athletes must plan for the games. Travel arrangements,the submission of information etc are all important aspects, if we(TTOC) are to create the environment and circumstances necessary for Olympic achievement."

Romany commented that the venues he had visited so far were "excellent".

The National Olympic and Commonwealth Games leader prior to arriving in Beijing, visited Glasgow, Scotland to assess that city's bid proposal to host the 2014, Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Game Association(CGA)Presidents from all 71 Commonwealth nations were invited by the Glasgow 2014 bid Committee to visit Glasgow.

Abuja,Nigeria is the other city bidding to host the 2014 Commonwealth games.

ago.09.2007

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) President Larry Romany is currently in Beijing, China.

Romany is in the Olympic city on a fact finding mission,visiting venues and holding meetings with Chinese Olympic officials and management staff, as part of the TTOC's strategic planning ahead of next year's Olympic Games.

Beijing, is expected to be hot and humid and some countries have expressed concerns about pollution.

However Romany said planning is "key" and assured that the TTOC is working backwards from the Olympic schedule to make certain there are "no surprises" in store for the T&T delegation.

"We intend to cover all the bases; competitions, training, rest days, pre-Olympic training camp, flights to Beijing, the stay in the village etc".

Romany however expressed the hope that the National Sport Organizations and their respective athletes will fully co-operate with the TTOC.

"In the past the attention to detail may not have been what I would have expected.Every one must be on the same page. The Olympic Games is the focus. If that is the case ,then all athletes must plan for the games. Travel arrangements,the submission of information etc are all important aspects, if we(TTOC) are to create the environment and circumstances necessary for Olympic achievement."

Romany commented that the venues he had visited so far were "excellent".

The National Olympic and Commonwealth Games leader prior to arriving in Beijing, visited Glasgow, Scotland to assess that city's bid proposal to host the 2014, Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Game Association(CGA)Presidents from all 71 Commonwealth nations were invited by the Glasgow 2014 bid Committee to visit Glasgow.

Abuja,Nigeria is the other city bidding to host the 2014 Commonwealth games.

ago.09.2007

The closing ceremony of 5th Annual TTOC OLympic Youth Camp will be held on Saturday 11th August at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Athlete's lounge. The ceremony starts at 2pm.

The TTOC Olympic Youth Camp is a nine day non-residential daytime camp for young male and female athletes between the ages of 12-17 years.

Since its inauguration in 2003 ,the TTOC, in an effort to ensure quality interaction limits the camp to forty participants.

The goal of the Olympic Youth Camp is to instill the values of Olympism and to foster greater enjoyment, self confidence, team spirit and fair play among young athletes.

ago.11.2007

Cheers and screams of delight greeted West Indies cricket team all rounder Dwayne Bravo as he entered the Jean Pierre media room yesterday(Friday). Bravo had accepted an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC)to speak to the participants at the 5th Annual TTOC, Olympic Academy Olympic Youth Camp.

The 23 year old Santa Cruz resident spoke with out a script during his thirty minute address.

Bravo, a former Tranquility Secondary school student told the Olympic youth campers that focus, self-discipline, self -belief and dedication were necessary ingredients for success. He urged the Youth campers to forget the "bling".

"Concentrate on working hard and loving and enjoying the pursuit of excellence. The bling is out there, but you must have a bigger vision for yourself and a higher sense of purpose. My goals ever since I was a little boy was to be the best cricketer I could be and to play cricket for my country and to make the West Indies cricket team by the age of 23 years. I acheived my goal by age 20. The money, fame etc was and is not my goal, improving and being the best I can be is my goal." Bravo said.

Bravo cautioned that there are many distractions ,but counseled his attentive audience that it is important that they focus on getting and staying fit, eating properly, improving their technique and tactical awareness and being coachable".

Bravo admitted that the reward and benefits earned by modern sportsmen and women for achieving excellence are "enormous" and well worth the effort and dedication. He however urged the youngsters to pay attention to their education, "You do not want to be in a position where someone can give you a six for a nine. You must be able to read, write, speak properly and count".

The popular Trinidadian sport personality cautioned that when an athlete is wearing the national colours it is important to understand that "you" are representing not only the 1.3 million citizens of T&T ,but every T&T national around the world."my personal philosophy is country first self after".

Bravo advised " it is important that when you make it big and I have no doubt that many of you present here today will one day be role models,that you remember to give back to your country and community.Lead by example".

ago.11.2007

Cheers and screams of delight greeted West Indies cricket team all rounder Dwayne Bravo as he entered the Jean Pierre media room yesterday(Friday). Bravo had accepted an invitation from the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC)to speak to the participants at the 5th Annual TTOC, Olympic Academy Olympic Youth Camp.

The 23 year old Santa Cruz resident spoke with out a script during his thirty minute address.

Bravo, a former Tranquility Secondary school student told the Olympic youth campers that focus, self-discipline, self -belief and dedication were necessary ingredients for success. He urged the Youth campers to forget the "bling".

"Concentrate on working hard and loving and enjoying the pursuit of excellence. The bling is out there, but you must have a bigger vision for yourself and a higher sense of purpose. My goals ever since I was a little boy was to be the best cricketer I could be and to play cricket for my country and to make the West Indies cricket team by the age of 23 years. I acheived my goal by age 20. The money, fame etc was and is not my goal, improving and being the best I can be is my goal." Bravo said.

Bravo cautioned that there are many distractions ,but counseled his attentive audience that it is important that they focus on getting and staying fit, eating properly, improving their technique and tactical awareness and being coachable".

Bravo admitted that the reward and benefits earned by modern sportsmen and women for achieving excellence are "enormous" and well worth the effort and dedication. He however urged the youngsters to pay attention to their education, "You do not want to be in a position where someone can give you a six for a nine. You must be able to read, write, speak properly and count".

The popular Trinidadian sport personality cautioned that when an athlete is wearing the national colours it is important to understand that "you" are representing not only the 1.3 million citizens of T&T ,but every T&T national around the world."my personal philosophy is country first self after".

Bravo advised " it is important that when you make it big and I have no doubt that many of you present here today will one day be role models,that you remember to give back to your country and community.Lead by example".