jun.01.2009

Monday 1 June- Port.of.Spain

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) will very shortly be calling all its affiliates to a meeting to discuss the quadrennial multi-sport schedule.Main item on the agenda will be the TTOC's fitness criteria and  the importance of proper preparation planning.According to TTOC president Larry Romany the economic challenges will mean that TTOC affiliates aspiring to participate at Games under the auspices of the IOC  will find themselves having to make difficult decisions.

"We are at the point  where the NSOs will be faced with the complex task of balancing development with elite.This quadrennial the focus will be on results and delivering on medal targets"
 
Romany pointed out that the TTOC  focused on development for the past twelve years and the time has come for a change in focus  in terms of team selection for upcoming games .He  highlighted the National Olympic Committee's emphasis since 1997 on athlete,coach and administrative development.
 
" A number of courses and workshops were held.Going forward the Summer Youth Olympics and Commonwealth Youth Games will now be the development vehicles"
In  the past the  Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC)  acted as the  Games where young talent was given the opportunity to gain invaluable exposure.
 
Romany said that the reality is that the CAC  is now an important event in terms of qualification for the Pan American Games and  the Caribbean Games is a showcase for the Caribbeans best athletes.
 
"In the lead up to London 2012 we cannot let up.The bar will be raised.just being happy to qualify will no longer pass muster.We want to engage our stakeholders in candid and forward thinking discussions in an effort to clarify the way forward." .
 
Meanwhile the  installation ceremony for the recently elected  TTOC executive will take place tomorrow at 6pm at President House.The President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the patron of the National Olympic Committee.