jun.28.2010

The 2010 Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee( TTOC) Olympic Youth Camp will get underway on Monday 5th July at two venues.The Athlete Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium and the Clifton Hill Sports Club in Point Fortin. The camp ends on 15 July and will run daily from 8am to 4pm.
First held in 2003, the TTOC Youth focused event has grown in popularity.Up to last year the Olympic Youth Camp was only held in Port.of. Spain. This year there will be two venues-Port.of. Spain and Point Fortin.

A total of four hundred youngsters will participate in activities geared at teaching and sharing the skills and information necessary to inspire them not only to be Olympic champions but champions in life.

The camp is non residental for youngsters involved in Sport and the TTOC landmark Shape the Community Development programme.

Held under the auspices of the TTOC's Olympic Academy,Education and Culture Committee(OAEC) the genesis of the Olympic Youth Camp goes back to antiquity and the ancient Greek gymnasia and is intended as a forum for young people to learn to interact with peers from different backgrounds.

The camp is not sport specific but embraces the Greek concept of a healthy mind,body and spirit.

Activities are included that encourage campers to embrace the Olympic ideals and values.ballroom dancing,etiquette,creative writing,music,conflict resolution ,nutrition,excercise physiology and art to name a few topics.

TTOC Affilates can nominate one male and one female 13-16 year old athlete for the Port.of.Spain camp. While Point Fortin will cater for participants in the TTOC Shape the Community programme.

TTOC president Michael Larry Romany affirmed that the Youth Camp is important .

" In many ways the Olympic Youth Camp is essential to the future of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic movement. It is the annual Youth camp that introduces the youth to the fascinating world of Olympics and Olympism.The Youth camp allows us[TTOC]to have a conversation with the youth. For some it is their first opportuntiy to learn about the Olympic movement outside of what they see on the television every four years."

Romany said the TTOC has approached the growth and expansion of its Youth camp in a measured and strategic manner.

" Over the years we have had many requests to expand. Quality and participant safety is a priority.We depend on the goodwill and volunteer spirit of the individuals who present on the various topics and the sports heroes ,male and female, who give of their time. Olympic Solidarity has been of tremendous support over the years. But getting to and maintaining the high standards requires significant capacity and resources. This year we have expanded to Point Fortin confident that we can deliver and exceed expectations at both locations."

For registration information please contact the TTOC at contact@ttoc.org or telephone-6251285