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

There seems to be an exciting movement towards health and fitness in T&T and it is happening quickly. It reminds me of the 1990s when the gym craze was in full swing. In the last ten years, however, our inclination to unhealthy eating and more sedentary lifestyles took over—demands at work, starting families… the distractions are endless. As is the natural way, though, life is a cycle and it would appear that our society has thankfully made full circle to this health-conscious hype once again. My own training for the Hardcore obstacle course that took place recently, landed me on a much needed, though dreaded, Lady Chancellor Hill run. While mentally focusing on the benefits of this physically stressful and painfully boring training exercise (do not be fooled! Not all aspects of fitness training is a good time), I noticed the movement mechanics of some of my colleagues on the same route.
It dawned on me that some of the same drills that are given in youth sport development will benefit many adults who are trying to return to or begin more active regimes. During the last year, in my professional setting, I have met numerous individuals who have admitted to having been grossly overweight previously. Of course they have come to my clinic having sustained an injury, hence the reason for our encounter. In most of these cases, in their quest for a healthier lifestyle, they developed tendonitis, muscle strains, muscle imbalances, over-compensations and other relatively minor injuries that could develop into chronic conditions or life-sentences of nagging irritations that limit functional ability. Inspired by these admirably ambitious and determined individuals, the following are some very basic guidelines in a gradual and safe return to a calorie-burning, physically vigorous, stream-lined and sexy, energetic lifestyle.
Having made the mental commitment, weigh out the following:

Balance your personal and professional commitments: Understand how much time you have to commit to exercise every week which will vary depending on the goal. As far as possible, find a way to do what it takes to make that happen. If it means, hiring a babysitter or getting support from a friend or family member for the time, do it! Look at it as an investment.
Muscle condition: As humans we do a ridiculous amount of sitting. We sit to work, drive, watch television, eat, etc. The length of time humans sit daily is being linked to shortened life-spans. That said, it must be recognised that a certain measure of muscle reorientation must take place before transitioning to intermediate and advanced levels of rigorous activity despite your enthusiasm. Activities that encourage gradual muscle contraction, using just your body weight such as yoga and TRX training, starting at the beginner level are safe and effective ways to get your cardiac and skeletal muscles adjusted to new and challenging movements. Isolating individual muscles as well as full body movements can all be done with minimal impact on the joints using these mediums.
Joints: Having reduced activity levels for many years, the joints in the skeleton, where tendons run and other important structural elements are located to facilitate movement and mechanical forces would have become affected. Our bodies are sculpted based on the tensions that are placed on them by our posture and movement patterns. Therefore, a person who slouches at his computer may find their chest muscles are tight and their back muscles are weak. A person who sits on their bed with their feet on the outside of their thigh versus Indian style, forcing their thigh bone (femur) into internal rotation, may find that their knees are easily affected by heavy activity. This is because their knee caps (patella) positioning and tracking ability have become affected.
Flexibility: In both the joints and the muscles flexibility is important. The easiest form of exercise is to walk or run, so very often this is one of the first forms of exercise started. It is very important to make sure that 20 minutes is spent after every exercise session stretching the calves with the knee straight and then with the knee bent, quad muscles (at the front of the thigh), the hamstrings (at the back of the thigh), the butt muscles and hip rotators (do a google image search for “hip rotator stretches” to find examples), groin muscles and finally but not limited to, stretch the lower back.
Happy and healthy exercising Trinidad and Tobago. Anyone can be an athlete.
Asha De Freitas-Moseley is a certified athletic trainer with the National Athletic Trainers’ Association of the USA. Athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers, health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize activity and participation of patients and clients. Athletic training encompasses the prevention, diagnosis, and intervention of emergency, acute, and chronic medical conditions involving impairment, functional limitations, and disabilities (www.nata.org).
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

His smiles were far and few between as is his demeanour. But this didn’t stop hundreds of fans from showering Keshorn Walcott with an outpouring of love on Wednesday evening. The fans, dressed in the national colours, waited for three hours for the Olympic team’s caravan to arrive at Gilbert Park in California. When they came, aboard an open truck, a frowning Walcott offered tentative waves. But sailor Andrew Lewis jumped down and warmly greeted fans.  The police cleared the way and when the Olympians mounted the stage, the cheers were deafening. Walcott posed with fans and when asked to smile for the photographs, he responded: “I don’t smile.” Chairman of the Couva/Tabaquite/ Talparo Regional Corporation, Dave Persad, said it was difficult to isolate the medal-winning Olympians. “All of our finalists and our coaches made us proud. Without them we will not be here today,” he said.
However, Persad said tribute must also be paid to those who had excelled not just in sports but in literature and engineering as well. Meanwhile, Couva North MP Ramona Ramdial predicted that T&T will get 16 gold medals in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. She added that all of the Olympians had gone through rigorous training to achieve their places in their respective finals. Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh said the T&T 2012 Olympic team was the most successful to have represented T&T. He said the Olympians succeeded in boosting patriotism and challenged the business community to support the team as they prepare for the 2016 Games.
“It was the business owners from the Point Lisas Industrial Estate who support Keshorn and his fellow Olympians as they fly our red, white and black flag high,” Indarsingh said.
Junior Chutney champion Anthony Batson serenaded the team with his songs Rangle Dal and Sundar Popo’s hit tune Nanny and Nana. Keron Williams, aka “Wakaman,” who composed a song, We win Gold, on the night of  Walcott’s victory, also showered the Olympians with gratitude. The Olympians also received hampers from KC Confectionery, which is located in the heart of Couva. Later on, the motorcade travelled to Chaguanas where Walcott was given the key to the Borough of Chaguanas by Mayor Orlando Nagessar. The bandwagon rolled into the Saith Park area around 6.30 pm and even though the event was scheduled to start around 1.30 pm, the hundreds who gathered eagerly remained until the Olympians arrived. Nagessar praised the athletes for representing T&T with distinction at the Games. The Olympians were paraded throughout the town and through the nearby village of Felicity where they were warmly greeted and congratulated for their achievements.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Trinidad and Tobago’s men’s team advanced to the finals of the Team division yesterday, as the 54th Senior Caribbean Table Tennis Federation Championships continued in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The local contingent stormed into the championship match after defeating the hosts 3-1 in a heated semi-final clash. Seasoned professional, Dexter St Louis blew past Samuel Galvez 11-7, 11-8, 11-9 and Emil Santos 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, 10-12, 11-9 while Curtis Humphreys clinched a 6-11, 11-3, 11-7, 14-12 win over Isaac Vila. Emil Santos was too much for Arun Roopnarine as he went down 7-11, 7-11, 6-11 in their meeting.

The TT Men’s team was scheduled to face Barbados in the championship match at 5pm yesterday, but up to press time results were not yet available. Barbados beat Puerto Rico 3-2 in the other semi-final.

In the women’s equivalent, TT were placed fourth after they were ousted by Puerto Rico 1-3 in Round five of the round robin. Rheann Chung was the only local to have recorded wins after she overcame Maria Maldonado 11-9, 11-13, 11-5, 11-2 and Nicole Torres 11-1, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7. Linda Partap-Boodhan went down to Torres 11-9, 11-3, 8-11, 6-11 and Maldonado 11-13, 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, 3-11 while Ashley Quashie lost to Lizette Maldonado 11-9, 7-11, 7-11, 7-11.

The local women also failed to get past Dominican Republic 1-3. Chung was again the lone victor with a win against Eva Brito 11-5, 11-9, 11-2 but lost her clash with Johenny Valdez 11-8, 5-1, 6-11, 6-11. Quashie also fell victim to Valdez 1-11, 3-11, 7-11 while Partap-Boodhan went under to Lineth Vila 4-11, 8-11, 11-9, 4-11. Mixed doubles were also expected to begin last night. The Men and Women doubles, Men 40-45, Men 46-50, Men over 50, Women 45 and over, Boys Under-21 and Girls Under-21 will all begin today.

By JONATHAN RAMNANANSINGH

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

After more than a decade of outrunning accusations that he had doped during his celebrated cycling career, Lance Armstrong, one of the best known and most accomplished athletes in recent history, surrendered on Thursday, ending his fight against charges that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong, who won the Tour de France an unprecedented seven straight times, said that he would not continue to contest the charges levied against him by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which claimed that he doped and was one of the ringleaders of systematic doping on his Tour-winning teams.

He continued to deny ever doping, calling the antidoping agency's case against him "an unconstitutional witch hunt" and saying the process it followed to deal with his matter was "one-sided and unfair."

"There comes a point in every man's life when he has to say, 'Enough is enough,' " Armstrong said in a statement. "For me, that time is now."

Armstrong, who turns 41 next month, said he would not contest the charges because it had taken too much of a toll on his family and his work for his cancer foundation, saying he was "finished with this nonsense."

Armstrong's decision, according to the World Anti-Doping Code, means he will be stripped of his seven Tour titles, the bronze medal he won at the 2000 Olympics and all other titles, awards and money he won from August 1998 forward.

It also means he will be barred for life from competing, coaching or having any official role with any Olympic sport or other sport that follows the World Anti-Doping Code. "It's a sad day for all of us who love sport and our athletic heroes," Travis Tygart, chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, said. "It's yet another heartbreaking example of how the win-at-all-costs culture, if left unchecked, will overtake fair, safe and honest competition."

As in many other high-profile doping cases - including that of the Olympic sprinter Marion Jones and other athletes involved in the sprawling Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative case, known as Balco - Tygart and the antidoping agency were basing their case not on a positive drug test but rather on other supporting evidence. Armstrong seized on that in his statement.

He said again and again that he had never tested positive - though he did test positive at the 1999 Tour for a corticosteroid, for which he produced a backdated doctor's prescription.

Armstrong also said the case against him was flimsy without that physical evidence.

"Regardless of what Travis Tygart says, there is zero physical evidence to support his outlandish and heinous claims," Armstrong said. "The only physical evidence here is the hundreds of controls I have passed with flying colors."

But even without a positive test, the antidoping agency appeared set to move forward with arbitration. It claimed to have more than 10 eyewitnesses who would testify that Armstrong used banned blood transfusions, the blood booster EPO, testosterone and other drugs to win the Tour. Some of Armstrong's closest teammates, including George Hincapie - one of the most respected American riders - were also expected to testify against him.

The antidoping agency also said it had blood test results of Armstrong's from 2009 and 2010 that were consistent with doping.

This is not the first time a top cyclist has suffered such a career implosion - it has been common in cycling in recent years, as doping has crippled the sport. Several recent Tour de France champions have been found guilty of doping, including the American rider Floyd Landis and Alberto Contador of Spain. But none of them had the stature of Armstrong.

Although it is possible that the International Cycling Union, the world's governing body for cycling, will appeal his suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport because it had battled over jurisdiction over this case, Armstrong's choice to accept his sanction tarnishes the athletic achievements of an athlete who inspired millions with his story of cancer survival.

Armstrong was already a world-champion cyclist when he was found to have testicular cancer in 1996, at 25. He overcame the odds to beat the disease. He then showed amazing strength and resilience by returning to cycling to win the Tour in 1999, gaining a mass of followers with almost a gravitational pull. They idolized him for showing that cancer could not stop him.

His legion of fans grew each year after that, and each year he won the Tour for them, turning himself into a star that transcended sports.

But in the shadows of his wild success were accusations that he had doped to win. In 1999, he tested positive for a banned corticosteroid on his way to winning his first Tour.

In 2004, the book "L.A. Confidential," published only in French, linked Armstrong to doping, including claims by his team's former massage therapist that he had asked her for makeup to hide needle tracks on his arm because they were evidence of his doping. In 2005, a former personal assistant claimed he found a steroid in Armstrong's medicine cabinet.

Also in the mid-2000s, a French newspaper reported that six of Armstrong's urine samples from the 1999 Tour had tested positive retroactively for the banned blood booster EPO. The strict standards for laboratory testing were not followed on those samples, so nothing ever came of those results.

Through the years, the accusations became more and more entangled. A Texas-based insurance company tried to withhold a $5 million performance bonus from Armstrong for his victory at the 2004 Tour because it said Armstrong had doped. Armstrong won a settlement.

In testimony in that case, Armstrong's former teammate, Frankie Andreu, and Andreu's wife, Betsy, said they had overheard Armstrong admitting to doctors when he was undergoing cancer treatment that he had used steroids, human growth hormone and EPO while cycling.

The accusations followed Armstrong wherever he went, but gained pace in recent years, though Armstrong's last Tour victory continued to fade into the horizon.

Landis, who was stripped of the 2006 Tour title for doping, in 2010 accused Armstrong of doping and being involved in a doping scheme while the two were teammates. Last year, Tyler Hamilton - another Armstrong top lieutenant - told CBS that Armstrong and others on Armstrong's teams were involved in a complex doping scheme that involved code words and secret cellphones.

Through it all, Armstrong denied doping. Even a two-year federal investigation into Armstrong that examined possible doping-related crimes seemed to come up empty. It folded earlier this year with no charges brought.

Armstrong, who retired from cycling last year, was not as fortunate this time.

He could have chosen to go to arbitration, which would have meant that witnesses could testify against him in a hearing possibly open to the public. Instead, he chose to bow out of the process.

In doing so, he emphasized that his Tour victories would always be his.

"I know who won those seven Tours, my teammates know who won those seven Tours, and everyone I competed against knows who won those seven Tours," Armstrong said, adding: "The toughest event in the world, where the strongest man wins. Nobody can ever change that."

By JULIET MACUR

Source: www.nytimes.com

Those bpTT ads about finding things to be proud about were truly special and inspirational: Hasely, Penny, Daren… but the one that got me most featured Maria Dimsoy Whiteman's pride in her son, Njisane Phillip.

"Njisane never had a lot of toys," she said, but he had his bike and he rode that bike and rode that bike and rode that bike...

At the Olympics, Njisane's presence was electrifying— a swooping hawk then a humming bird aflutter—it was so predatory and confident that one could see that this was just a beginning.

It got me thinking about self-confidence and the factors that create and nurture it. Njisane's father was a cyclist, Cleopatra Borel's dad was an athlete, Jehue Gordon's father was a cricket fan and enrolled him in Harvard Sports Club when he was six.

The Bravo brothers: Dwayne and Darren, Sunil Narine, Brian Lara; all had that kind of abiding support. The list of those brimming with what Viv Richards calls self-belief is long, and it appears to me that this trait is home-schooled.

Significantly, many of our young people who are making us proud have been surrounded by nurturing environments that have fed them not so much with material things, but with care and support for their dreams. I do not know if the athletes who all represented us so magnificently at the London Olympics come from affluent backgrounds, but they went out there brimming with a faith that very likely billowed from a lifetime of enough positive reinforcement to lift them above a sense that they come from too small a space to make a difference.

They were there because they invested their lives in the discipline and training it takes to reach the highest levels in their fields. The Olympics, so fresh in our minds, emphasised this, but it is true of any form of excellence.

We have grown accustomed to bewailing the behaviour of our youth (especially our males), to casting them in the roles of villains terrorising 'decent' citizens, but do we really give any thought to the environments that have been conditioning them?

The parents who neglect their children, wallop them physically and mentally from day one, constantly tell them how inadequate and good-for-nothing they are, really set them up to limit their goals and extinguish their dreams from early o'clock.

Then at schools they encounter so much of the same. Njisane's mother said he had trouble in schools and was kicked out often. Why? He had undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder. What would have happened to him had this not been caught? What is happening to all those with no such luck?

In one of his excellent articles, columnist Dr David Bratt wrote about the pervasive impact of extreme psychological abuse on children in their adulthood: social difficulties, aggression, mental health difficulties and attempted suicide.

"The diagnosis is difficult, and relies on a cautious, sensitive and sensible approach by paediatricians and related healthcare, social care and teaching professionals," he said, but knowing our state of affairs, he was not hopeful, "we might just as well forget about it in T&T."

 

Yet the optimist in him prevailed and he advocated community involvement: every man jack having a vested interest in seeking the welfare of every child. He is right, we cannot make Olympians of them all, cannot create hordes of homogenous superachievers, but we can try to see each one as a bud that will blossom with care.

Out of a muddy pond, David Rudder had seen ten thousand flowers bloom.

Just as gardeners need to tend their plants if they are to reap succulent fruit, we have to provide the right nutrients or they will wilt. We have only to glance behind our shoulders to see our bitter and force-ripe crop.

So the concept of community, as Dr Bratt defines it, must be wide and inclusive.

Among the bpTT campaigns was one where they featured six potential Olympians, calling them Ambassadors for Courage and Respect and so on. They have had them visit schools and the young students were elated and motivated by their words and presence. (Another goal of their Independence oriented campaign was to get 100,000 tweets by September in return for which bpTT will give $200,000 to the Olympians and Paralympians, like Shanntol Ince and Carlos Greene.)

 

Now this is not an unpaid homage to bpTT, but simply an example of the way corporate citizens can do meaningful things to support our youth. Petrotrin has offered $2 million over four years to 20 athletes. The Tobago House of Assembly has announced a Lalonde Gordon Sporting Development Fund and started it with a million dollars and offered to match dollar for dollar any corporate donations.

The London Olympics managed to energise interest in athletes, enough to garner some tokens of investment in development and training. What it should also have accomplished is to embarrass us into recognising just how little has actually been done by way of enabling athletes to properly prepare (two javelins and a hip hip hooray!). Check the backgrounds and see how many of them actually do their work overseas.

Yet, like freeloaders, we jump on their bandwagons, mandating parades and pappyshows that are absurd caricatures of the solitary pursuit of excellence which above all requires commitment, discipline, sacrifice and hard work.

By Vaneisa Baksh

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

T&T’s double Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon will go for gold in the men’s 400 metres at the Samsung Diamond League Athletissima in Lausanne, Switzerland, today. Gordon caught the attention of the world with his strong third-place finish in a personal best time of 44.52 seconds at the London Olympics on August 6 and will race in his first competition since his medal winning run. Gordon, who also led T&T’s 4x400m relay team to Olympic bronze in a national record of 2:59.40, will seek to turn the table on Grenadian Kirani James and Luguelin Santos. James and Santos took gold and silver, respectively, ahead of the Lowlands, Tobago quartermiler.
Speaking on his return home on Saturday, Gordon said he expects an exciting race. “Most of the guys I will be coming up against were the finals in the Olympics.  James and Santos will be there. I am going out there to do my best,” he said. The 23-year-old returned to his New York-USA base on Tuesday after participating in the Tobago leg of the nationwide motorcade for this country's Olympians on Monday. T&T's sprint aces Keston Bledman and Richard Thompson will line-up in a classy men's 100m field which includes world champion and double Olympic sprint silver medallist Yohan Blake of Jamaica, and fellow 4x100m relay gold medallist Nesta Carter. Former world champion American Tyson Gay and teammate Ryan Bailey, who were fourth and fifth respectively in the London 100m finals, are also among the starters.
In the women’s 100m, World Championships bronze medallist and Olympic sixth-place finisher Kelly Ann Baptiste will face a hot field in what looks like a rematch of the London Olympics finals. Gold, silver and bronze medallists Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica), Carmelita Jeter (USA) and Veronica Campbell-Browne (Jamaica) head the list,  along with double sprint finalist Murielle Ahoure (Ivory Coast) and former Olympic and World Championships silver medallist Kerron Stewart (Jamaica). Former world junior champion Jeneba Tarmoh (USA) is among the starters. Cleopatra Borel will be aiming to improve on her second-place finish at the Gyluvlai Istan Memorial Grand Prix in Budapest, Hungary on Monday. Borel will face two-time Olympic queen in the women's shot put Valarie Adams (New Zealand) and American Michelle Carter, who claimed the top spot in Hungary. Borel will be aiming at improving her season's best of 18.69m. Olympic champion Usain Bolt has opted to contest only the 200m and among five Jamaicans in the line-up. Compatriot and Olympic bronze medallist Warren Weir and USA’s Wallace Spearmon will be among those to watch.
By Clayton Clarke
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

South Trinidad will get the first taste of the inaugural Tour of Trinidad and Tobago, which pedals off today with the George Terry Stage from 7 a.m., a hill time trial event at San Fernando Hill.

Trinidad and Tobago's top road cyclist, US-based Emile Abraham, will lead, the US outfit Rossetti Devo cycling team in the first of two events. The second event is a circuit race along the Rienzi-Kirton Highway, starting and ending at NAPA.

Several international teams and riders United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Czech Republic, Canada, Uruguay and Colombia, and from the Caribbean Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and a US-based Cuban team will also be battling for the overall title.

Among the top local-based riders are Adam Alexander, Jude Codrington, Thireef Smart, Barry Luces, Kelvin Tinto and Gevan Samuel, who will ride with Rosetti Devo. Smart and Codrington will ride with Team Petrotrin, sponsored by the oil company and owned by US-based coach/cycling promoter Roger Farrell.

From a local perspective, one man with a keen eye on today's races is national time trial champion, Jovian Gomez, a member of the three-man Bike Smith team contesting the "Tour". Gomez believes that the inaugural Tour of T&T will provide a great opportunity for local cyclists to test themselves against international competition. "It will give local riders a taste of international competition especially where road racing is concerned and it would put us on the map in terms of having pro teams coming here to compete. "Additionally, it would be a huge boost for local cyclists who never had the opportunity to go abroad and compete. Most international riders would be in action as much as three times a week, whereas, we do not have competitive action that frequently.

The rider feels more exposure to international competition can aid in boosting the standard of cycling locally.

Gomez has mixed feelings about his chances in today's opening stage, the George Terry's one kilometer Hill Time Trial at the San Fernando Hill. "I am average on the climbs but pretty good on the flat. The time trial I won was over a flat course, so I would have to go flat out over the hilly circuit in order to get a good time. "And I don't expect it to be easy as the competition would be quite stiff."

—Kern De Freitas

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

T&T Under-20 women’s volleyballers got off to a tough start at the eighth Norceca Continental Junior Championship after going under to four-time reigning champions and five-time winner USA in straight sets in their Group C encounter at the Gimnasio Polideportivo Espana, Managua, Nicaragua on Tuesday. The Americans led by Kadie Rolfzen’s 15 points, three of them aces and one block won 25-10, 25-10, 25-8 in 57 minutes against the Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association (CAZOVA) champions.
Rolfzen’s sister, Amber, added nine points for the USA, while Mc Kenzie Willey got six and the trio of Merete Lutz, Haleigh Washington and Kayla Morin, four points each as the title-holders signalled their intentions to qualify for the FIVB 2013 World Championship.
For the Macsood Ali-coached T&T squad which is without four of its regular players, captain Makila York was the topscorer with four points while Reann Young had two, and Zahra Collins, one.  Speaking after the loss, York, whose team was outplayed in all aspects of the match and trailed 28-6 on spikes, 6-1 on blocks and 14-0 on service aces said: “We had some difficulties in our passing and things didn’t go our way; we had some highs during the match and we’ll practice on them so they can be more frequent.”  Ali, who led the national junior team to a ninth placed finish two years ago Mexico, after it ended eighth in 2008 and 2006 and, seventh in 2004, added: “We find ourselves in a very tough group. I said to my girls that even with a miracle, it’s impossible to beat USA and Cuba, so we’ll try our best and reach 15 points which didn’t happen today. Our passing broke down as they have a very tactical team.” Last night, T&T played third ranked Cuba, the 2000 winner and three-time third placed finisher in its other Pool C match, ahead of today’s final set of preliminary matches.
Also on Tuesday, fifth seeded Costa Rica defeated eighth ranked Antigua & Barbuda, the Eastern Caribbean Volleyball Association champions 25-9, 25-9, 25-7 in Pool A while in Pool B fourth ranked Mexico outclassed Guatemala 25-11, 25-11, 25-3. Today, Costa Rica and host Nicaragua meet in Pool A while Dominican Republic, second at the last four editions,  faces Mexico in Pool B while USA and Cuba meet in Pool C. At the end of the round-robin series, the best two top finishers from the three groups, based on points-ratio, will advance to the semifinals while the other group winner and three second placed teams will meet in the quarterfinals tomorrow. The best third placed finisher on points ratio from the three groups will play the winner of the other two third placed finishers for seventh spot. NS
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

France-based Dexter St Louis and 14-year-old top ranked local Curtis Humphreys played unbeaten as T&T booked a spot in today’s quarterfinal of the men’s team event at the 54th Senior Caribbean Table-Tennis Federation Championship in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, yesterday. The pair topped their three-team round-robin series.  St Louis, Humphreys, 14-year-old Arun Roopnarine and Kyle Borneo lived up to their top seed billing among the 12 teams, by sweeping tenth ranked Curacao 3-0 and then humbling eighth seeded Guadeloupe, 3-1. In the clash with Curacao, the local men, who won the title in 2009 to end a 29-year drought and was second last year in Guyana behind Dominican Republic, got off to a perfect start via four-times singles champ St Louis, who defeated Michael Dalnoot 11-7, 11-5, 11-5.  Humphreys then battled past Dimitri Leon 11-5, 11-8, 12-10 before debutant Roopnarine marked his entrant to the senior level with a polished 11-4, 11-8, 11-4 beating of Erick Van Venedaal to seal the 3-0 victory. Against Guadeloupe, the local trio had a little more resistance with Humphreys being taken to five sets before beating Cedric Cideme 10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 11-2, 11-9 while St Louis spanked Arnaud Labique 11-3, 11-4, 11-5 to set up another clincher for Roopnarine. However, this time around, the T&T teenager could not come away with the win and was beaten by Gregory Cuirassier 9-11, 11-9, 11-5, 9-11, 9-11.
But that was as close as the French-speaking island got, as St Louis returned to sweep past Cideme 11-8, 11-3, 11-8 to complete a second series win for T&T. The three other groups consisted of Puerto Rico, St Lucia and 12 Haiti (Group Two); Dominican Republic, Guyana and French Guiana (Group Three) and Jamaica,5 Barbados and Aruba (Group Four)
Meanwhile, the T&T women’s team of Brittany Joseph, Ashley Quashie, Linda Partap-Boodhan and France-based Rheann Chung, the step-daughter of St Louis was in third spot, along with Guyana after two rounds of matches in the six-team tournament. This after losing to Guyana, 2-3 and rebounding to brush aside Barbados in their second match. Quashie was upstaged by Guyana’s Trenace Lowe 12-10, 7-11, 3-11, 3-11 but Chung, the reigning Caribbean singles title-holder and four-time winner, got her team level by whipping Chelsea Edghill 11-8, 11-9, 11-5. The see-saw swung in Guyana’s favour in the third match after Partap-Boodhan was beaten by Natalie Cummings in five tough sets 10-12, 11-7, 11-8, 3-11, 9-11. However, Chung came to her team’s rescue battling past Lowe 8-11, 8-11, 12-10, 12-10, 11-3 to force a fifth and deciding contest where Quashie suffered an 11-13, 11-7, 7-11, 3-11 to Edghill.
The second ranked T&T women squad which features 14-year-old national senior women’s champion Brittany Joseph had much better fortune against the Barbadians rivals with Chung crushing Krystle Harvey  11-3, 11-2, 11-3; Quashie outlasting Angela Reid 7-11, 3-11, 11-5, 11-6, 12-10 and Partap-Boodhan overcoming Anthonette Riley 11-1, 10-12, 11-5, 11-5
Top seeded Dominican Republic blanked Jamaica and Guyana by 3-0 margins while joint-leaders Puerto Rico, ranked fourth, had similar victories over Barbados and Jamaica. Last night, T&T faced Jamaica while they also meet Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to complete women’s round-robin play. The team competition is expected to end today while there will also be competition in the men and women singles, doubles, mixed doubles, Under-21 singles, doubles and mixed doubles as well as veterans (Over-45). Last year, St Louis, who won his fourth singles crown in 2009 came up short in his quest for a fifth men’s title after going under to Dominican Republic’s Juan Vila in the gold medal match 15-13, 9-11, 5-11, 7-11, 8-11 while Humphreys was a losing semifinalist. St Louis and Chung are also the defending mixed doubles champion and six-time winners while St Louis and Humphreys got silver in the mixed doubles, and Chung and nine-time national women’s champion, Aleena Edwards, silver in the women’s doubles last time out. However, Edwards who went under to Joseph in the national semifinals earlier this year is unavailable. Joseph and Roopnarine will also compete in the Under-21 Championships while US-based Dayanand Maharaj competes in the Over-45 (Masters) Division.
By Nigel Simon
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

By Ronald Saunders
The success of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) athletes at the 2012 Olympic Games in London has created an illusion of the greatness of athleticism throughout the region. The brutal truth is that it is athletes from only four countries, principally Jamaica, who were responsible for the Caribbean’s success. Jamaica won 12 medals (4 gold) and was number 18 of the 79 counties that won medals.   Trinidad and Tobago at number 47 was next with 5 medals (one gold) followed by the Bahamas and Grenada jointly at number 50 with I medal each (gold).  Unfortunately, the other 9 participating CARICOM countries won nothing. Therefore, CARICOM countries collectively won 19 out of 302 medals. The jeopardy of the claim that “Caribbean” athletes did so well is that governments and the private sector might relax into believing that they need do nothing to develop athletes since their natural talent will guarantee success.  That would be a dangerous fallacy.
But, let me praise the CARICOM athletes.  Coming from a total population of just over 5 million people and with very little financial support they were outstanding, and the Caribbean people have every right to be proud of them.  Usain Bolt has done more to make the world aware and admiring of Jamaica than anyone since or before Bob Marley.  Keshorn Walcott, who won the Javelin gold medal, has certainly made Finland and Eastern European countries aware of Trinidad and Tobago. He has claimed a place that they long held and he has simply boggled their minds.  Grenada’s young Kerani James was stunning in winning gold in the 400 metres, but he was extraordinary in waiting to congratulate the man who finished the race last – the double-amputee from South Africa Oscar Pistorius.  James won gold in the hearts of people all over the world for that single act of human kindness.  He was a credit to the Caribbean.
Other competed well in their heats, among them Daniel Bailey of Antigua and Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados. They gave their all, and they deserve praise for their magnificent efforts. They would certainly have done better with more help. The stamp that the athletes, who won gold medals, have put on competitive sport at a global level has earned their countries global recognition.  It is recognition on which the tourism authorities, especially in Jamaica, should capitalise on now and invest in for the future. But, are the 15 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries ready for a single Sports Academy, located in Jamaica (as was proposed in my last commentary) to be charged with the specific responsibility of preparing the region’s ‘elite’ athletes for international competition?. The proposal for such an Academy is not “instead of” national training and coaching starting from primary schools.  It is very much “in addition” to such training and coaching.  Without it, the Caribbean’s ‘elite’ athletes will compete at the global level and some of them will succeed, but the performance of the London Olympics will not be sustained, and it may well decline.  Even the best athletes require financial support, professional coaching and proper training – that’s what turns raw talent into sustained winners.  And that is what a single Sports Academy, supported by governments and the private sector of the region, should be doing.
As an example the British government is investing US$790 million over the next four years in preparing British athletes for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Could a single Sports Academy for the Caribbean Community happen? Below is a sampling of the responses that my last commentary received.
From the Bahamas:  “The Caribbean excelled at London however at least for  the Bahamas if it was not for the numerous Athletic Scholarships to US Colleges and Universities there would not have been the success there has been. Other than Cuba probably Jamaica is the only country that could fiscally develop this with athletes from the smaller countries co-using the facilities of Jamaica, but Jamaica is not going to fund that for fun. There will be a cost. Can the smaller countries afford the costs”?
From Grenada: “As a proud Grenadian, and as Jamaicans like to call us, ‘Small Islander’, I wish that there is no sports integration that includes Jamaica! It is bad enough that Jamaican music dominates the English speaking Caribbean. Worst, yet is that the violence, and poverty that is endemic to Jamaica is slowly seeping to other peaceful islands. Jamaica should be for Jamaicans, and we should be happy for that. Furthermore, why would any other small island want to be lumped and piled with that chaotic trouble spot”.
From Jamaica: “The other Caribbean islands need to send students to GC Foster Collage to be trained as Athletic Instructors/Teachers and then they return to their countries and develop their own athletes. Further investment after the students have shown outstanding talent will have to be done by the private sector and the government of the specific country in that athlete”.
From Barbados: “We have to think Caribbean and put away the insular crap that allows us to consume ourselves rather than consummating ourselves.  The expansion of the UWI High Performance Centre into all major sports, seeing a dedicated Athletics program, wherein we identify potential future Olympians from age 15 or 16 and bring them into a high performance development program, with very specific end goals, but as in the USA, catering to their educational requirements. Local qualifying criteria for the Olympics must be more stringent that even the present ones, e.g., sending a 100 m contestant to the Olympics with a 10.2 sec qualifying time will see him just get out of the first round, at best. The Caribbean Governments missed the boat again when they allowed the lotteries to be privately owned. These should have been National lotteries with the net funds (millions of dollars) going specifically into the areas that were designated. We must engage world class coaches and ensure that our own coaches are developed to world class standards.  What is required is: Vision, a sense of action and a commitment of appropriate resources”.
Amen to the last comment. But who will lead the action?
(The writer is a Consultant and former Caribbean diplomat)
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

The local operations of at least four companies have incurred the wrath of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) legal department with their social media marketing. Digicel, Mario’s Pizzeria, SportWorld and MasterCard have caught the attention of the IOC’s legal department for their “unauthorized association” with the London 2012 Olympics, including through the use of the image of Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott. “The T&T Olympic Committee president, Larry Romany, and I were hauled before the legal department of the IOC, and ‘dragged over the coals’ regarding the ambush marketing taking place in our jurisdiction,” TTOC Secretary General Brian Lewis said on Tuesday. He said he fears that Trinidad and Tobago is earning a “reputation with the IOC to be a territory that is an ambush-marketing free-for-all” thanks to the offending companies. In its Bye Law to Rules 7-14, the Olympic Charter says: “Each NOC (National Olympic Committee) is responsible to the IOC for the observance, in its country, of Rules 7-14 and BLR 7-14. It shall take steps to prohibit any use of any Olympic properties which would be contrary to such Rules or their Bye-laws. It shall also endeavour to obtain, for the benefit of the IOC, protection of the Olympic properties of the IOC.”
In its Brand Protection Guidelines, the IOC defined ambush marketing: “Also known as parasitic or guerrilla marketing, ambush marketing describes a business’ attempts to attach itself to a major sports event without paying sponsorship fees. As a result, the business gains the benefits of being associated with the goodwill and public excitement around the event for free. This damages the investment of genuine sponsors, and risks the organiser’s ability to fund the event.” In another document, the Rule 40 Guidelines, the IOC expressly prohibits, “References to Participants (including use of their image) on corporate websites (including social networking sites and other social media platforms) which appear on the company’s home page or equivalent (including, for example, a landing page or front page of Facebook); or directly promote or endorse a product (but note the deemed consent for use in catalogues below); or are not simply in the context of factually describing the company’s support of the athlete (or sport) and/or included within an archived news item or blog – the references are used in a more promotional context.” Initially, Lewis would not specify which companies made the “unauthorized association” with the London 2012 Olympics, but when asked specifically about Mario’s Pizzeria, he confirmed that it was “not Mario’s alone” and denounced that the ambush marketing “is still taking place” on Facebook and other social media.
The Business Guardian learnt that letters from the TTOC on behalf of IOC’s legal department have been sent to the offending companies asking them to immediately cease and desist. Screen shots of Digicel’s Facebook pages showed, up to press time on Tuesday (August 21), congratulatory messages to, and banners of Walcott, and other Olympic athletes. Mario’s took down its posts following Business Guardian enquiries. Sportworld’s Facebook page was taken offline on Tuesday but up to Monday screen shots showed the photos of Walcott and other Olympians still up. MasterCard was “dealt with directly by the IOC,” Lewis said. “We (TTOC) have been very clear, very cooperative with requests for permission and or information,” Lewis said. “There are a set of IOC guidelines that we have to abide by. There are some constraints. Where we may agree to allow an association with the TTOC and TT Olympic Games rights, it cannot be activated in a way that is offensive to the Olympic movement.  It is about ensuring everyone is playing by the rules. We are attempting with the guidance of the IOC legal department to bring clarity to the local market place in respect of the legal and contractual relationships surrounding Olympic sponsorship and authorised association. There are legal complexities as it relates to the IOC, TTOC, sponsor and athletes’ rights. Through open and transparent communication we are trying to guard against disputes.”
Lewis said that prior to the London 2012 Olympics letters had been sent from the TTOC to all advertising agencies, media houses and others. In addition, he said the TTOC issued press releases and took part in radio shows to raise awareness. The Olympic rights are infringed when there is “unauthorised association,” Lewis said. He said this occurs when “an unauthorised non-sponsor in the course of trade, creates an association between their business goods and services and London 2012, the IOC or TTOC, and also, when a company uses the association in any promotional or commercial application, causing confusion or misunderstanding, or being misleading as to the relationship with the Games. He said: “Unauthorised use of the Games Marks are strictly prohibited. Expressions and words that may be deemed to create an association for there to be an infringement are: gold, silver, bronze, medals, London, 2012, and London 2012 to name a few. The fundamental legal issue is whether an association has been created with London 2012, the Games, IOC or TTOC.” He said that “Rights of Association” provide official sponsors with the exclusive right to be associated with the Olympics, London 2012, IOC and TTOC.
Ambush marketing

He said that ambush marketing and unauthorised activities damage the exclusive rights of sponsors, the IOC, and the TTOC. Ambush marketing involves a company trying to associate itself with a major sports event without paying sponsorship fees, when its competitors and other third parties have paid for this benefit. “The challenge with ambush marketers is that they piggyback on the increased awareness and excitement and the feel good factor of an event such as the Olympics without paying for the right to so do,” Lewis said.It is disappointing that such established T&T companies with positive brand images would adopt such a deliberate and intentional campaign, Lewis said. “They would not want anyone to breach their intellectual property. Why do it to others?” he asked rhetorically. “We have worked closely with the IOC legal department in an effort to ensure that the IOC and TTOC intellectual property rights were protected. It is disappointing that Mario Pizza would ambush market,” he said. Mario’s owner Richard Harford has not returned calls or emails from the Business Guardian on the issue.
Digicel responds

Digicel Communications Manager Penny Gomez said in an e-mailed response: “Having been alerted that a third party operator had inadvertently associated one of Digicel’s one-off online promotions in April to the Olympics, Digicel immediately acted, instructing the vendor to remove any and all offending elements. Digicel then went a step further and contacted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to apprise it of the situation and was thanked by the IOC for taking such immediate and decisive action.”  Raising awareness about the issue in 2004, George Bovell was the first Olympic athlete from Trinidad and Tobago to prohibit, through his attorneys, any unauthorized use of his name or image following his first Olympic bronze medal in Athens, Greece. Lewis said: “People will judge you by the company you keep. The Olympic movement can’t have partnerships with those who don’t share our values and ideals. The Olympic movement is not just about selling the rights to use the logo, but rather the right to associate with an ideal, a purpose, a dream.”
By Aleem Khan
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Tobago-born Lalonde Gordon was rewarded with $300,000 from the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for his bronze medal performances at the recently concluded Olympic Games in London, England. He placed third in the men's 400 metres final and also helped the national team to third in the men’s 4x400m final. Gordon became the first athlete from the island to secure an Olympic medal when he clocked a personal best of 44.52 seconds in the men's one lap event. The New York-based athlete will collect $200,000 in Unit Trust shares and $100,000 in cash and will also receive a house in Courland. THA chief secretary Orville London made the announcement at the cocktail reception for the Tobago Olympians in Crown Point Monday night where Gordon was billed to be the guest of honour. However, Gordon was unable to attend as he was part of the Olympic team’s motorcade in Tobago earlier in the day. His grandmother Yvonne Gordon collected on his behalf.
London also announced that Gordon’s parents will receive $50,000 as a refund for expenses they incurred to travel to London to witness their son’s historic performance. Gordon arrived in Tobago on Saturday and left the country yesterday morning heading out to Lausanne, Switzerland to compete in the Athletissima Diamond League tomorrow. The THA also presented Olympic finallists Kelly Ann Baptiste and Semoy Hackett with $150,000 each. Baptiste was sixth in the women's 100m final while Hackett was eighth in the 200m.  The duo will get $75,000 in Unit Trust share and $75,000 in cash. Both were absent and were represented by parents Hazel Taylor (Kelly-Ann’s mother) and Beverly Davidson and Dennis Hackett (parents of Semoy). Former World Championships bronze medallists Josanne Lucas and Renny Quow  will received $50,000. Both were unable to compete in the Olympics due to injury and the THA will assist in there rehabilitation.
By Clayton Clarke
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Bernard Lapasset, the chairman of the International Rugby Board (IRB), has predcited that the return of rugby to the Olympics at Rio 2016 will provide a huge boost to both the sport and to the entire Games.

Rio 2016 will see rugby appear at the Games for the first time since the Paris 1924 Olympics after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to re-admit the sport to its programme at a Session in Copenhagen in 2009.

Lapasset was in London to observe the 2012 Olympic Games and admitted it has made him even more excited ahead of the long-awaited return of rugby to the Olympics.

"Three years ago, the IOC placed their faith in us by voting to include rugby sevens in the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympic Games programme," said the 64-year-old from France.

"There is no doubt that the decision has been the most significant event in the history of rugby sevens' development and growth since the short form of the game was created in 1883.

"We wanted to be in the Olympic Games and the Youth Olympic Games because we believed it would be good for rugby and good for the Olympics.

"For the IRB, the opportunity is much more than simply having our sport represented on the sport's greatest stage.

"It is in fact the key that has unlocked the door to participation in emerging and new rugby markets.

"Rugby is now in schools in Russia, China, India, Brazil and Mexico because its growth has been accelerated by the Olympics."

Lapasset also highlighted women's rugby as an area that has received significant development due to the Olympic inclusion.

"Inclusion has bolstered the women's game and there are now over a million women playing globally with more funding and facilities available thanks to partnerships with their National Olympic Committees," he said.

"We will shortly be announcing details of the IRB Women's Sevens World Series which underscores our commitment to ensure that our female athletes have the same opportunity to compete as the men in a regular annual global sevens event in preparation for Rio.

"So we are excited and proud of our opportunity at the Olympics and we are completely committed to delivering a world-class event, to engaging the Olympic Family and to ensuring rugby sevens makes a memorable Olympic debut in four years' time."

By Tom Degun in London

Source: www.indsidethegames.biz

Olympic success is a gift not a pay check. The record breaking London 2012 Olympic team has given T&T an unforgettable 50th birthday present. By happy coincidence the Olympic Games is the year we celebrate our golden jubilee as an independent nation. It’s a beautiful moment to witness T&T so happy, joyous and positive. Everyone's involved and united in celebrating the country's London 2012 conquerors. Fourteen medals went to 18, one gold medal became two, Hasely Crawford now Keshorn Walcott. That it occurred in the city where it all began must have some special meaning. However, if we are to capitalise on the legacy potential of T&T’s historic London 2012 achievements, we must not get carried away or fool one another. This is just a fling not a long term love affair. Much of what is taking place is already being perceived as shameless and insincere opportunism and bandwagonism. In this respect the University of T&T (UTT), for example, may wish to investigate how they are announcing a scholarship for Keshorn Walcott with accompanying full page advertisements while allegedly ending the scholarships of other young sportsmen and women, some a few months away from getting their coveted degree.
Developing Olympic champions is not a simple or inexpensive undertaking. It requires a deep understanding and passion for systemic sport and athlete development. Getting the structure, the right people in place, a stable platform and foundation is no easy task here in T&T. Ministers of Sport, the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC), NSOs (National Sport Organisations), sportsmen and women-young and old have endured ridicule, rejection, and negativity. Efforts to convince decision makers and those who inform policy to take long term sport development and the economic and business potential of sport seriously, have met with muted responses at best. Lip service abound.
Experts are out in abundance with solutions, plans and programmes for Rio 2016 (Brazil) demanding in the process that government provide more money for sport. But where is the money going to come from when houses, hospital beds, schools and police stations are the priority. Is more money the answer or more dedicated volunteers? Sacrifices will continue to be made- careers, financial security, family welfare and health will be put on the back burner to ensure young boys and girls and adults have what they need.

Our young sportsmen and women need people who will serve sport faithfully whether it is a big responsibility or a small unnoticed task. London 2012 must be a starting point, not an end in itself. It should not matter who gets the credit as long as what is needed to be done, gets done. If there isn't grown up discussions about systemic long term sport and athlete development, T& T's historic Olympic medal achievements will be another discarded carnival costume on Ash Wednesday- soon to be a vague memory in the passage of time. In the absence of a strategic and joined up approach rather than a disjointed one  Rio 2016 success will be compromised. It should not be an ego battle for relevance or legitimacy. The London Olympic medals are gifts provided as most gifts are from the heart and soul. They weren’t bought. They came from the love, dedication, courage and passion of the athletes, their families and coaches. The Ministry of Sport, corporate partners, NSOs, the TTOC, and well-wishers, facilitated by providing support, resources and encouragement where and when needed. That it is not an easy journey and will never be need not be said only appreciated. It is certainly an honour and a privilege to represent T&T. When the London 2012 party is over, the long and lonely journey to Rio 2016 will continue on. Will London 2012 change T&T's attitude towards sport on the whole?  The early signs aren't positive.

Brian Lewis is the honorary Secretary General of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee www.ttoc.org. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the TTOC.

By Brian Lewis

Source: www.guardian.co.tt

TOCO has seen an increase in the number of local tourists to the area following the recent gold medal success of Keshorn Walcott at the London 2012 Olympics, councillor Terry Rondon has said.

More than 1,000 local visitors went to Toco on Monday for the Eid-ul-Fitr public holiday, Rondon said.

Toco, known for its beautiful beaches, now has a new tourist attraction: the childhood home of Olympic champion Walcott.

Walcott shot to international stardom with his gold medal-winning javelin throw of 84.58 metres in the London Olympics on August 11.

His achievement has drawn local tourists from throughout the country to his family's home at Trois Roches, Toco.

And while Rondon and the residents of Toco are glad for the influx of visitors, a new problem has arisen.

The road to Toco is in "urgent need of repair" and Rondon yesterday made an appeal to the Central Government for help.

Rondon, the councillor for Toco/Fishing Pond, said the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation was doing its best but it needed the Government's help to fix the road.

Rondon said there were several traffic accidents along the Toco Main Road on Monday as motorists swerved to avoid potholes.

"We are always grateful for all the visitors we get, people have come in search of Walcott's home and his hometown village and we are happy for that but we need help with the roads," Rondon told the Express yesterday.

"We (the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation) are responsible for cleaning the beaches, and trying to ensure the area is beautiful but we need help with the roads, it is too much," he added.

Rondon said he was grateful for all the Government has done for Walcott but road woes in the area also needed to be addressed.

By Joel Julien

Source: www.trinidadexpress.com

The Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) has heaped praises on the region’s athletes who distinguished themselves at the recent Olympic Games in London. In a release yesterday, CANOC said it was with extreme pride that the recently concluded Games can well be described as The Caribbean Games “when we reflect on the numerous achievements of our very remarkable Caribbean athletes at London 2012.” In a release CANOC noted that the legacy of the Olympic Games 2012, included the astonishing firsts, personal bests, the camaraderie and flair of our sportsmen and sportswomen in many arenas of competition. It stated: “In offering congratulations to our proud athletes, CANOC offers a similar tribute to the administrators and technical officials whose contributions to the successes of our teams are often hinted at but not brought to the attention of the adoring public. All of the chiefs of mission, coaches, NOC executives and medical and other support professionals are deserving of special mention. “We thank you immensely.”
The release continued: “In a particularly touching and memorable moment, our own Richard Peterkin paused at the medal ceremony to give an extra hug to Kirani James on his achieving gold and a first for Grenada—a moment not to be forgotten.” It noted the following words in an editorial from the Caribbean Media Company: “ The stadium in recent days was the scene of several magical moments as the Caribbean ignited fireworks of its own. Led by sprint powerhouses Jamaica, Caricom nations broke several barriers and recorded their highest-ever medal haul. In the end, the region won seven gold,four silver and seven bronze.”  CANOC said the writer went on to highlight the fantastic feats of Jamaican medallists and of those of  the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada. It said Cuba and The Dominican Republic were to be added to the list. “When we meet in Grand Cayman in October, further congratulatory remarks will be made. We must now renew our efforts to inaugurate the Caribbean Games, while the world is watching.”
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s Olympic sweethearts were yesterday mobbed by scores of cheering, flag-waving Tobagonians who crowded the ANR Robinson International Airport at Crown Point, Tobago.

Among the local athletes, who put on a stellar showing at the recently concluded London 2012 Olympics, was Tobago’s own double bronze medallist, Lalonde Gordon.

Hometown darling Gordon and gold medal winner Keshorn Walcott were the stars of the show yesterday as they emerged from inside the airport terminal to greet fans.

Flanking the duo was Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar.

Gordon, and his mother Cynthia Cupid, who both reside in Queens, New York, were in Tobago on Saturday, while Walcott and the other athletes arrived on Sunday.

The Olympians went to the airport to greet the prime minister who arrived via helicopter.

The Olympic Caravan on the sister-isle was much like the one held in Trinidad last week Monday, when Walcott arrived home.

It took the caravan more than ten hours to get to Walcott’s home in Toco, last week Monday which was declared a holiday by the government.

As it snaked its way along Milford Road, through the southwest districts of Crown Point, Bon Accord, Canaan, the motorcade passed through Gordon’s village of Lowlands - where he was born 23 years ago. Gordon left for the US at the age of two.

Lining the road were adults and children waving their national flags as they eagerly waited to the see the athletes.

The caravan caused a massive traffic gridlock from Crown Point to Store Bay.

It took more than an hour and a half to travel a distance of 400 metres.

An unscheduled stop was made at the Old Market (Tambrin) Square, in uptown Scarborough, where tokens and trinkets, including cups with the prime minister’s image, were distributed to the enthusiastic crowd.

It was expected that she would address the gathering to announce what goodies were planned for the Tobago-born double bronze medallist but up until 9 pm last night, nothing was said.

Earlier in the day, the caravan finally arrived in Roxborough on the eastern end of the island, some seven hours after it began.

At about 8 pm it was making its way to Charlotteville. Gordon’s mother told Newsday she wanted to pay special tribute to Calvert Phillips, of Mt St George, who is now residing in Princes Town.

Phillips, she said, took care of her son whenever he came to Trinidad.

She also had special thanks for PNM MP Donna Cox.

“We just want to honour these two people and all other persons who would have assisted Lalonde when he came to Trinidad for various track meetings and national trials”, said Cupid.

By Karl Cupid

Source: www.newsday.co.tt

History is made and defined by landmark events. Because of these events, our world never would be the same. Such is the advent of the Abilenian, Deon Lendore. Born October, 28, 1992, to Chrispina Isaac of Mt Pleasant, Arima, Deon is the last of three children. He has a brother Jevon and a sister, Leah. He is the eyeball of his grandparents, Christine Lendore and Carmen Isaac. His schooling embraced St Theresa’s pre-school, run by Teacher Paula, Arima Boys Government and QRC. He is currently a business major at Texas A&M, University in USA. He started his running at Mt Pleasant Neighbourhood Block Party. He was discovered by Mike Perry, party organiser, who claimed that Deon was too good to compete against his peers on the block, and that he should join a club to take him to the next level of his game. His mother, Chrispina, a former athlete competing for Abilene Wildcats in the 70s, introduced her son to her former club. His world was never going to be the same. These events in his young life changed the direction of his focus. As destiny would have it, he was on the path to be Arima’s and Abilene Wildcats’ first Olympic Medalist.
Arima has produced more than 16 Olympians, but none like Deon Lendore. I called him on the night of his selection to the Olympic team and said to him, “Go get it, you are the chosen one.” He is developing. A college degree and not “The Pros” should be his priority. Financial incentive will be tempting, but short-lived. This is an important step in the decision-making process for him.
There’s no mystery. If you are in college, graduate! If you are not, ride the “elite” train! T&T took bronze in the 4x400m relay, contributing to another successful night for the Caribbean at the 30th Olympiad in London. It’s history. No T&T team has ever accomplished this feat. Gordon,  Solomon, Alleyne-Forte and Lendore combined for 2:59.40, NR (T&F News). Gordon said: “Everybody brought their best game.” Lendore added: “We had to run our best to medal.” Their splits in the final: Gordon—44.6; Solomon—44.6; Allyene–Forte—45.51; Lendore—44.73.
“The world may be surprised, but as a team, watching our own performances throughout the year, we knew we would have given strong competition and take a medal.” The team broke into the elite ranks of Olympians when they finished third. Lendore, the young man from Abilene Wildcats Arima, with the “Wolf pack,” instantly scribed their names into Olympic history, and in T&T’s track mythologies. Today, his relatives are still beaming in the quiet hilly Mt Pleasant community of Arima at  their home. Seventy-seven-year-old Christine Lendore, grandmother, in a telephone conversation said: “I just could not believe that I was watching my grandson on TV running.”  His mother, Chrispina, said: “Cliff, all I could do was cry, as I never could believe what I just saw. My son anchoring the team to a medal?” Sister Leah said: “I was praying all the time, Thank you, Jesus! My little brother, an Olympic medalist?” Abilene Wildcats’ coach, Charlie Joseph said: “He was super. I can’t say it any better. He did extremely well, we are proud of him. Now, we need the velodrome to train.”
By Cliff Bertrand
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

From a child, double Olympic bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon had a love for the speedy cheetah. Little did his mother Cynthia Cupid know that one day, her energetic, robust son would run past some of the world’s best quarter milers and claim bronze in the men’s 400m finals in a personal best of 44.52 seconds at the London Olympics on Monday 6 August. Cupid did not understand her son’s fascination with the feline. “He loved animals and his favourite was the cheetah. He always talk about it being the fastest animal and did not know where he was coming from. Then one day he came home from middle school with a trophy and said ‘Mommy, Friday I am going for the bigger one. And Friday came, and he got a bigger medal. That is when I started paying closer attention to him. His teacher said he was gifted young man. There was a monster in Lalonde waiting to come out. He used to make so much trouble, you know, running about.”
Speaking on her son’s arrival in Trinidad on Saturday, the Mt St George-born, New York, USA resident said she shouted for joy when Gordon crossed the line third in London. “I was screaming. I felt like a celebrity that day. I could not believe it. I just could not believe it. I say thanks to everyone.” She admitted she was nervous before the race. “I had lots of belly ache and butterflies in my stomach. I knew Lalonde was going to do something, but I just was so anxious. I didn’t want to watch him. But as a mother, I was alway there for him. I felt so proud when I saw him getting into the semifinals and then to the finals. I was so happy. I just knew that day he was going to bring home a medal.” Lalonde ran the lead off leg for the men’s 4X400m team, which was third in a national record of 2:59.40. Gordon was also a member of T&T’s World Indoor 4X400m bronze medal winning team in Instanbul, Turkey in March earlier this year.
Cupid, who migrated to Queen’s, New York when Lalonde was two years old, said her son was always a challenge to manage. “Lalonde was always active running, jumping. Nobody wanted him to come by them because he was always active.” She shared that she did have an early scare as he was sick as a toddler and had to be operated on. “As a child he was sick. One day he was flown to Trinidad to do an operation. Funny enough, almost all the kids on that ward died. When I came in and saw him head down on the bed, I thought I had lost my son. But then the doctor told me he was not sick since he was born strong.” Following their return to Trinidad, Lalonde and his mother arrived in Tobago later on Saturday, and were greeted by Tobagonians dancing to the beats of African drums and the sounds of conch shells. Banners read: “Congrats Lalonde ‘Flash’ Gordon.”  “Tobago joy.” “You made up proud. From family and friends.”
Lalonde was surprised by the reception and acknowledged the hundreds of fans who gathered at Crown Point. Another surprise came when he saw his grand mother Yvonne Gordon who was in the arrival hall at the ANR Robinson International Airport to meet him. She hugged and kissed him. Tobago House of Assembly Assistant Secretary for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Huey Cadette, THA Minority Leader Ashworth Jack and coach Gerard Franklyn were also on hand to welcome the local hero. Tobago Development Minister Dr. Delmon Baker also congratulated Gordon as he came in on a later flight. Gordon will be be joined by Olympic men’s javelin champion Keshorn Walcott, and several of T&T’s other Olympians in Tobago today for a motorcade on the island. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the Cabinet will also accompany the athletes. The Tobago House House of Assembly will host a cocktail reception in Gordon’s honour later. Gordon returns to the US tomorrow, before heading out to Switzerland where he is due to run in the Lausanne Diamond League 400m.
By Clayton Clarke
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

His ascent from struggle to stardom is by no means a novel one.

But what made Keshorn Walcott’s success so phenomenal was his ability to muzzle those who felt that he stood little chance of winning a medal against the stellar line-up of European javelin throwers in the recently-concluded Olympic Games in London.

For many, the Toco-bred Walcott, 19, was the underdog of the competition, a face without a name.

Few, it appeared, knew though, that he entered the Olympic javelin toss as the world’s junior champion and had been participating competitively in the field event for years before his glorious win, more than one week ago.

Now, Walcott, Trinidad and Tobago’s second Olympic gold medallist, seems poised for greatness and has been bestowed with a slew of attractive rewards, including $1 million in cash and an apartment in Federation Park, courtesy the People’s Partnership Government.

“To win a gold medal you need a lot of character and clearly he (Walcott) has that,” said Hasely Crawford, who won TT’s first gold medal in the 100-metre race at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada.

“A lot of us will see a little boy but bear in mind he has been breaking records for the past few years. Three years go he won two gold medals in Carifta. He has been winning but we have not been paying attention because it was a little boy from Toco.”

Crawford, who witnessed Walcott’s winning throw in London, told Sunday Newsday on Thursday that he has been following the young man’s career for several years and was deeply impressed by his grit and determination.

In fact, Crawford said he was confident the athlete would have medalled in London.

“The point I am making is that he has serious character but we weren’t seeing it. Something about that fella, he loves a challenge. That is why it was so easy for me to predict that he would have won a medal because I was paying attention,” he said during an interview at his home in Federation Park.

Defying all odds, Walcott’s powerful javelin throw of 84.58 metres, was one of the major upsets of the Olympics —a victory which threw light on the potential of Caribbean athletes to excel in a sport, which, for years, had been dominated by Europeans.

But while he also enjoys an esteemed position as the youngest athlete to win the javelin toss at the Olympic Games, Crawford said Walcott must be wary of those who may seek to capitalise on his hard-won success.

Crawford, who celebrated his 62nd birthday on Thursday, said, “He needs to have a proper management structure around him in every sense of the word — in terms of his finances, his future endeavours, his coaching programme, or else he will fail. My advice to him is to get a proper structure of people who are really there for his welfare. If that don’t happen, he will be in trouble.”

The San Fernando-born Crawford was 26 when he won the Men’s 100-metre race in a time of 10.02 seconds at the Montreal Olympics to become the country’s first Olympic gold medallist.

The then Dr Eric Williams-led People’s National Movement (PNM) Government named a British West Indian Airways (BWIA) jet after him. He also received four free flights per year for the rest of his life courtesy the airline. More than a decade later, in 2001, the nation’s premier sporting facility, the National Stadium, would be renamed the Hasely Crawford Stadium in honour of his achievement.

Crawford also appeared on postage stamps and was awarded the country’s highest honour, the Trinity Cross (now Order of TT) in 1978.

Admitting to have fallen prey to the adulation in the wake of his success, Crawford said he later made a conscious decision to stay away from the limelight.

Instead, the former Olympic champion, during his glory days, said he chose to nurture relationships with several members of his support team and others whom he felt had his best interests at heart.

Of those post-1976 years, Crawford said, “I saw a lot of two-faced people. They come to you with a lot of ulterior motives. I had my guard up early o’clock and I started to move away from people. Keshorn will have to be very careful of the kinds of people he deals with.”

In fact, Crawford said he felt sorry for Walcott, who, like him, emerged from modest beginnings to be at the top of his game.

“In a sense I feel sorry for him because I haven’t seen anything put in place for him. Maybe, he has a management team around him. I hope he can really get that kind of support,” he said.

Almost four decades after his victory, Crawford, who has maintained his burly physique, makes no apologies for “retreating into a shell” over the years.

“I had to pull back and people called me cocky because of it,” he said.

While many regarded him as a national hero, others sought to take advantage of his status, he said.

To demonstrate this point, Crawford recalled an incident in which a jeweller deliberately hiked up his fee for services on an item because he felt the former athlete had received a large amount of cash from the then Government for winning the Men’s 100-Metre race. Crawford recalled that a former Chancellor of Germany had given him a gold watch “that was dear to me,” but after a minor mishap, it needed to be repaired.

“I took it to a jeweller and he told me, ‘You is Hasely Crawford, you have money, you win gold. You is Eric Williams boy.’ He charged me $15,000 to fix the watch and he did not even open the watch yet. He just tell himself I had money. So all these things made me pull away,” he said.

The ill intent did not end there. Crawford said people ridiculed him on the streets, saying that he would have lost the race if there was another five yards to go.

Many also scrutinised the persons with whom he interacted, he recalled.

He said, “I remember people started calling me a womaniser and when I tried to fix that in terms of who I was seen out with and I started hanging out with more guys, they called me gay. I am not scared to talk about it because I was never gay. “But I am saying these things because I want people to know what you go through as an athlete. You name it, I was it. It’s sad but I learned from my mistakes. All these things happened because I was trying to find way to protect myself.”

The unfortunate episodes, Crawford said, “made me get hard and I paid dearly for it.”

He said in hindsight, he would not have done it any other way.

Crawford said Walcott, too, will have to develop a strategy to protect himself during his reign as an Olympic javelin champion.

“That is why I feel sorry for him because he will go through it. And it is a good thing once you can deal with it. I think I had the strength to deal with it,” he said.

“ Maybe the discipline of the sport helped me to deal with it. I was very disciplined. I always gravitated towards people who could help me. My advice to him is that he has to be careful of the people he has around him. People will come around him because of who he is, not necessarily because they really care about him. He also has to find a way quickly to really analyse people. That is what I did.”

A long-serving member of the National Association of Athletics Administration of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAA), Crawford described Walcott as focussed, saying he did not appear to be interested in the trappings of fame.

In fact, Crawford said he and Walcott were similar in many respects.

“I had a qualified, experienced coach around me and he has a qualified, certified coach around him for years. To really be successful, you need a good coach,” he said.

Like Walcott, Crawford said he also had a good support staff.

“So, I had a structure around me. It don’t happen just like that. You have to have structrure around you that you believe in 100 percent.”

Asked about the gifts that have been presented to Walcott, Crawford would only say, “Whatever he gets, he deserves it. There is something about the young man I like. I can’t say what it is. Maybe I see myself in him. But is something about that fella that touches me.”

Former Siparia-born Olympic quarter-miler, Ian Morris, who has also enjoyed a successful track career, told Sunday Newsday that he took his fame in stride.

“I deal with mine simple. I didn’t make anything go to my head. I just went with the flow, whatever happened, happened,” he said.

Commentators mentioned Morris’ name (in reference to the Caribbean line-up) during the finals of the Men’s 400-metre race in London when Grenada’s Kirani James, 19, ran 43.94 seconds to win the event. James had also delivered the island’s first-ever Olympic medal.

“I felt happy to know that they remembered and they mentioned it — that Kirani James had broken Ian Morris’ Caricom record,” he said.

Saying that he was pleased with the gifts that have been bestowed on Walcott, Morris said, “I believe that the young fella has a good head on his shoulders. He has good people behind him — his manager, his coach — and I am hoping that they can advise him in the proper way and not let him squander and let the things get to his head and falter. It is tremendous to see that he has gotten so many great gifts.”

Morris, who regarded his personal best time of 44.21 seconds in the semi-finals of the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, as the pinnacle of his career, said he would like to see other local athletes excel in their respective events.

“We had, this year, the biggest entourage of about 30-something athletes and to me nearly all of them who had competed did extremely well for Trinidad an Tobago and the Caribbean on a wider scale because if you looked at how the Caribbean athletes performed, we have dominated events where the Americans had dominated especially in the track and field,” he said.

Morris said he was also delighted that the corporate fraternity has expressed a renewed interest in supporting local athletes.

“I am seeing that Petrotrin has come on stream because of what has happened. Where were they before? he asked. “Why choose now, because of our success? Why didn’t they come on stream to help before?”

Morris said he was in Jamaica during the start of the track and field competition at the London Olympics providing commentary on the performances of the Caribbean athletes.

“The Caribbean athletes did extremely well this Olympic year,” he said.

Morris also noted that the business community in Jamaica had thrown its support behind the country’s athletes, who included sprint sensations Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Warren Weir, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown.

“Corporate Jamaica came out and supported. You don’t wait for someone to break a world record or win a gold medal, silver medal or bronze medal. But they do come out and support.” Morris said he hoped Petrotrin would invest heavily in track and field over the next few years

He said, “We can identify a lot of talent here in Trinidad. We can groom athletes right here in Trinidad instead of going abroad, just as how the Jamaicans did.”

Morris also wants the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) to widen its track programme with a view to keeping young athletes at home.

“If we could see that happening then we will be doing things for the country. If they could do that instead of going abroad to study — although there is a wider scale in terms of good competition — but of they could do it here in Trinidad I would be happy,” he said.

Crawford told Sunday Newsday that Walcott’s talent was unearthed more than a decade ago during the National Gas Company’s (NGC’s) Right On Track initiative, a national track and field programme which targeted young children.“People believe he just came out of the blue but he was part of a talent identification programme all through the country,” he said.

“Every Saturday morning we used to take a bus, we take our coaches, our equipment, buy our own water and food and go to all the far flung communities. Athletes were exposed to all the state of the art equipment and some coaching and Keshorn arose out of that programme.”

So successful was the programme, Crawford said it was subsequently taken to Grenada, St Vincent, Dominica and St Lucia on a pilot basis.

“That is how Kirani James was found,” he said.

Crawford said Right On Track highlighted the fact that youngsters who have expressed an interest in track and field need to be supported.

“If we really want to get more of those Keshorn’s and Ato Boldon’s, we really need to support them at that tender age. People really want to come but they need a lot of support in terms of equipment.”

Crawford said Walcott must always believe that success was well within his grasp.

“To be successful, you have to eat it, sleep it, dream it, to reach to the top,” he said. “Athletes do not enter an event to fail. When you go out there, you want to beat people.”

Crawford recalled that he was “one cocky fellow” during his heyday in athletics.

“I remember on the night before my 100-metre Olympic race, I went to Don Quarrie’s room (to intimidate him) and his manager had to run me. Nobody was better than me,” he said with a laugh.

Quarrie, of Jamaica, had placed second in the event, and for many years, was Crawford’s closest rival. The two men have since remained good friends.

By Corey Connelly

Source: www.newsday.co.tt