Most of Trinidad & Tobago's foreign-based Olympic athletes have returned home and will join their locally-based teammates for a series of activities designed to honour them for their accomplishments at the 2012 Olympic Games.
The primary event, for which the athletes have returned, is a reception celebrating their achievements, and will be hosted by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar at the Diplomatic Centre tomorrow.
T&T won four medals at the 2012 Olympics in London. Nineteen year-old Javelin thrower Keshorn Walcott won this country's second-ever gold medal, and the first since Hasely Crawford won 100m gold in Montreal, Canada, 36 years ago. Winning bronze were 400 metre runner Lalonde Gordon; the 4 x 400m men's team of Lalonde Gordon, Jarrin Solomon, Ade Alleyne -Forte and Deon Lendore; and also the 4 x 100m men's relay team consisting of Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender and Richard Thompson. Cyclist Njsane Phillip reached the semi-finals of the match sprint, while swimmer George Bovell reached the final of the 50m freestyle. Jehue Gordon, Richard Thompson and Kelly Ann Baptiste also reached the finals of their event.
In addition to tomorrow's ceremony, the Sport Company of T&T (SPORTT) and the Ministry of Sport have planned two activities: a media conference from 2 p.m. today at the Jade Room, Hyatt Regency Hotel, and a school symposium to be held from 10 a.m. tomorrow at the Little Carib Theatre, Woodbrook. Secondary schools who are part of the International Inspiration programme, as well as other Secondary and Primary schools in the Port of Spain area and from Tobago, will be in attendance.
The focus of the symposium is to allow for interaction between students and athletes with students posing questions on a range of topics that may include the Olympic experience, the life of an elite athlete, the importance of education in pursuit of sporting goals, the role of sport science in performance and brand/marketing management for athletes.
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com