COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Australia’s Gold Coast has long been derided as an “overgrown resort town” and a “cultural desert”. But the 2018 Commonwealth Games allowed the host region to develop and communicate its big city credentials. Mega-events have been heavily criticised in recent years, but if planned properly they can bring many benefits for host cities, including social and economic regeneration. Gold Coast authorities were also interested in urban development: they wanted to show the world their coastline has matured from tourist resort to fully fledged city.

Over 6,600 athletes and team officials from 71 nations and territories made history over 11 unforgettable days of world class sporting action.

Michelle-Lee Ahye historic win in the 100m in 11.14 seconds at the 2018 Commonwealth Games which concluded at the Gold Coast, Australia, yesterday, is testimony of the benefits of hard work, discipline and perseverance on her part and work of her coach and support staff. She deserves all the accolades that have been showered upon her and the financial rewards to be bestowed from TTOC and the Ministry of Sport through the new sport policy on rewarding excellence.

T&T’s top international women’s distance runner Tonya Nero finished a creditable 14th in the 26.2 miles Commonwealth Games women’s marathon event on the last day of competition out at the Gold Coast, Australia yesterday.

Kyron McMaster’s 400m hurdles win gave the British Virgin Islands a first ever Commonwealth gold, and came months after his coach Xavier Samuels was killed in Hurricane Irma

The Commonwealth Games have changed public discourse on reconciliation and the need to respect, recognise and support the rights of indigenous people in Australia and across the Commonwealth.

President Paula-Mae Weekes yesterday lauded the achievement of Trinidad and Tobago’s latest Commonwealth gold medallist Jereem Richards. The 24 year old won gold in the men’s 200m final as action continued at the Carrara Stadium in the Gold Coast, Australia. “Congratulations Jereem Richards. The country is once again bathed in golden light thanks to your magnificent victory in the Commonwealth Games 200m men’s final. This is the first time since 1966 that Trinidad and Tobago athletes have won multiple gold medals at the Commonwealth Games - Michelle-Lee Ahye’s historic Women’s 100m final gold medal and now Jereem’s,” she said.

THE people of Point Fortin were in a celebratory mood yesterday as they marked the victory of one of their own. TT’s Jereem Richards, 24, grabbed a gold medal in the Men’s 200m final at the Commonwealth Games held in Australia. It was the second gold medal won for TT at the games. The first was taken by sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye in the women’s 100m final.

Trinidad and Tobago's Jereem Richards took the men’s 200 metres title following Zharnel Hughes’ disqualification in the Commonwealth Games as Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the women's title from from a high-class field here today.

There is a breath of fresh air blowing through the T&T camp out at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia and it continued yesterday as Jereem Richards made his first appearance at the event with victory in his preliminary 200 metres heat in which he record a time of 20.33 seconds to advance to today’s semifinals, carded for 7.06 am (TT time).

There was a "Roar" and with it came Michelle-Lee Ahye, who soared above all in winning the Commonwealth Games Women’s 100 metres title in Gold Coast, Australia, yesterday.