Source: www.guardian.co.tt
The T&T Olympic Committee will join the rest of the global Olympic Movement in celebrating Olympic Day and Olympism on June 23. In a worldwide event held to celebrate the establishment of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) while providing a medium for the promotion and education of Olympic values. The T&TOC’s actual day of activities will take place on Saturday with the theme being “a new Olympic style format and an opportunity to spend quality time with the family while promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for every citizen of T&T.” This year the T&TOC adopted a different approach to the management of the commemorative activity following a decision by the national Olympic committee's executive to allow the UWI/FIFA/CIES Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management to manage the event as part of the NOCs collaboration with the University.
The post graduate students have proposed some new ideas that the T&TOC have unanimously agreed to adopt, including a change of venue from King George V Park in Port-of-Spain to Chaguaramas. The Chaguaramas location offers appropriate land space, aesthetics and the opportunity to host a wide array of activities. In agreeing to permit the T&TOC's event to be held in the Western peninsula, Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) officials said that the CDA shares similar values and vision with the T&TOC, the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Day. Both the T&TOC and the CDA consider the promotion of family oriented sporting activities, respect for and appreciation of the natural environment and a greater awareness of health and wellness as important attributes in the development of a healthy and crime free T&T.
T&TOC president Michael Romany expressed his organisation's confidence that Chaguaramas could prove to be the ideal location for Olympic type activities. "This year's Olympic day event can be used by both the T&TOC, IOC, Olympic Solidarity and the CDA to build the foundation for future partnerships for sports, health and family activities. (The TTOC) is also delighted to continue to partner with UWI and UTT in an ongoing effort to afford students pursuing sports related study practical experience and internships." added Romany. Romany said that a benefit of having the post graduate students involved is that the students bring a different perspective. “Over the years we have managed the event in house. But it is always beneficial to inject new perspectives and ideas. The Olympic day run and week is a major event on the Olympic calendar. It is therefore important that we use the potential of the event as a key driver of the Olympic message to the fullest. “It is a wonderful platform to present the Olympic values. It is also an exciting opportunity for the students to learn more about the T&TOC and the Olympic movement while at the same time getting the opportunity to develop, implement and execute their ideas and plan as part of their diploma project.” said Romany. Olympic day activities will include: A 5K Run, badminton, volleyball, cycle/wheel chair races, dance (ballroom), football, mini golf/snagg golf, mini hockey, paralympics, target archery, karate, kkayak, tag bee, aerobics, dragon boat races, basket ball, face painting, bouncy castle.