The 22 athletes representing T&T in rugby, swimming, athletics and badminton were officially sent-off for the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, which will take place in the Isle of Man from next Wednesday to the following Tuesday. The sending-off ceremony was held at the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) Headquarters, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain, yesterday. The contingent comprises 22 athletes, five coaches, a manager, two massage therapists and a team doctor along with Treasurer of the TTOC- Jacqueline Pantin- Romany, who will act as Chef-De-Mission. In attendance at the function were Secretary General of the TTOC- Brian Lewis along with feature speaker President of the TTOC Larry Romany and guest attendee Leslie Figaro,president of the T&T rugby football union.
Lewis used the opportunity to offer words of encouragement, while urging the athletes to build upon the experience. “You are being given an opportunity to represent yourself, your family, your community. Treat it as a privilege and an honor and not a right and an entitlement. View today as a starting point for how you dress, being punctual, how you conduct yourselves. You are now and will be from this moment on, Ambassadors of Trinidad and Tobago,” Lewis said. “It is very easy in these times to drop your personal standard. I urge you not to do that,” he continued, speaking to the contingent of rugby players and swimmers in attendance.
Rugby Team: Andel Francis, Olton Charles, Shaquille Cummings, Shaquille Tull, Tariq Cheekes, Themba Jack, Dario De La Rosa, Jamaal Stewart, Jamaal Seechan, Akash Benjai, Argus Des Vignes and Patrick Dekeel Julien. Rudolph Jack will manage the team while Wayne Pantor and Carlton Felix are the coaches.
Badminton Team: Matthaus Wilford, Jason Ramjass, Kristi Reno-Singh, Reba Fleary. Anil Seepaul is the team coach.
Swimming Team: Kristin Julien, Dylan Carter and Joshua Romany. Franz Huggins will coach the team.
Athletics: Onika Murray, Machel Cedenio and Hezekiel Romeo. Ian Carter is the Athletics coach.
Dr Zynul Khan is the team doctor. June Durham and Derek Ashby-Williams are the team massage therapists.
T&T’s participated in the Commonwealth Youth Games for the first and only time in 2008 when it was held in Pune, India.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt
-Andrew Gioannetti