New Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (T&TOC) president, Brian Lewis has called for a singular vision in the promotion of track and field in Trinidad and Tobago.
Speaking at yesterday’s launch of the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Championship month at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Lewis said an important opportunity awaits the country at the August 10-18 World Championships in Moscow, Russia.
“This is the World Championship year. The reality is that Moscow will attract the attention of over six billion television viewers--over 2,000 athletes and 200 countries. Many people take for granted what that exposure means to Trinidad and Tobago. You can’t put a value on that global exposure and the positive profile that the NAAA, the athletes who will be representing Trinidad and Tobago in Moscow will bring to this country.
“I wish to urge the public and all the stakeholders, whoever you may be, that it is important to support track and field. Of our 18 (Olympic) medals, 14 have been won by track and field. In terms of the World Championships, we have won ten medals. But when we compare it to the performance of our archrivals Jamaica, and I mention Jamaica deliberately to put a context, we should not be fighting among ourselves, we should not be seeking to create parallel organisations.
“We should be seeking to respect each other,” the T&TOC president continued, “and the roles in the contribution to progress, grow and develop sport, and by extension, to develop the young people of this nation, so that we will create the foundation for a better future.”
The first of four NAAA Championship meets will be staged this weekend, at the Crawford Stadium. On Saturday and Sunday, the public will have the opportunity to see T&T’s Carifta stars on show at the National Junior Championships.
The cast includes quartermiler Machel Cedenio, middle distance runner Mark London, distance runner Akeem Marshall, hurdler Jeminise Parris, long jumper Andwuelle Wright, and throwers Hezekiel Romeo and Chelsea James. All seven athletes earned gold at the 2013 Carifta Games, in Nassau, Bahamas.
At the launch, Sagicor’s Michelle Serville presented NAAA Games Committee chairman Allan Baboolal with a $150,000 cheque. The full value of Sagicor’s sponsorship is $250,000. National Gas Company (NGC) is contributing $250,000 as well. The list of sponsors also includes Blue Waters, Petrotrin and Phoenix Park Gas Processors.
However, it was noted that the main source of funding for the Championship month is the Sport Company (SPORTT). SPORTT’s Alexander Smith commended the NAAA.
“The Juvenile Championships, Junior Championships, Senior Championships demonstrates evidence of a definite athlete development pathway. We are indeed pleased about this. The inclusion of the Combined Events (Championships) shows a general inclusion of all the various events in track and field.”
NAAA president Ephraim Serrette also spoke about the importance of the Combined Events meet.
The Senior Championships will be staged between June 21 and 23, and the meet is expected to feature all the top T&T athletes, including Olympic men’s javelin gold medallist Keshorn Walcott.