2012 National sprint champions Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Keston Bledman were among several of T&T’s Olympic-bound athletes who were given a send-off parade and concert by the T&T Olympic Committee (T&TOC) and BPTT yesterday at Woodford Square, Port of Spain. T&T’s Olympians were given the celebrity treatment with a parade which started at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) from 11am. Scores of students and fans lined the route to get a glimpse of T&T’s sporting heroes, as they made their way from NAPA to Frederick Street to their final destination at Woodford Square. From there the athletes were greeted with a thunderous round of applause and screams from the huge crowd that awaited their arrival. Also at hand to cheer on the sporting icons were T&TOC President, Larry Romany, and Port-of-Spain Deputy Mayor, Keron Valentine.

The athletes who were present were sprinters Baptiste, Bledman, Kai Selvon, Semoy Hackett, Michelle-Lee Ahye, Reyare Thomas, Ayanna Hutchinson and Jamol James; hurdlers Janeil Bellille and Mikel Thomas; 400m runners Michael Cedenio and Renny Quow; Keshorn Walcott (javelin), Paralympic powerlifter Carlos Greene, triple jumper Ayanna Alexander, and boxer Carlos Suarez.
Making an address on behalf was Borel, who shot her way to her ninth national title at the NAAA Sagicor/NGC Open Track and Field Championships on Saturday. Borel threw the shot put 17.98m to reclaim her title from 2011 defending champion, Annie Alexander, who placed second with a 16.79 throw. In her address Borel thanked sponsor BPTT and all the organizing committees who made the staging of the event possible and the people of T&T for their continual support.  

Then came the part that all “trinis” were waiting for: the concert performance by Kes the Band. Kes hard the crowd of almost 200 people moving to the rythmic beats of popular soca songs including “Wotless”, which the crowd had no problem in helping him sing. The 2011 Groovy Soca Monarch king repeatedly told the crowd that he loved the Trinbagonian culture and the way that locals come out and support their fellowmen. Laughing he said: “This is true Trinbagonian culture, when people could come and leave dey wok and whine in Woodford Square.” Hosts JW and Blaize also delighted fans with their 2010 Power Soca Monarch winning song “Palance”. The athletes then all joined the stage as they were sent off with Kes’ inspirational song “We Are Conquerors” which he specifically penned for T&T’s who will be going to the London Games.

-Shernice Thomas

Source: www.guardian.co.tt