The home of sport champions and gold medals. It’s an aspiration, a dream, a big goal. T&T can be a dream factory a place where sport dreams become reality. But reality demands an action plan.
One characteristic all champions have is they are never completely satisfied with their performance. They are their own harshest critic.
It’s all about making yourself prepared. You can't doubt yourself. You have to be confident and go for it. In big games and events and at big moments, it comes down to who wants it most. When everyone is tired, it’s about who wants it most, who will dig deep and make the extra effort.
What drives a champion? It’s the joy found in effort. The resolute quest for excellence. It’s the courage to lay down a marker.
Last Saturday at the Jean Pierre Complex, the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) held the first of three fitness tests as part of the selection criteria for upcoming Commonwealth, Youth Olympics and Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games.
Started in 1997, there is an improvement in the attitude of some sports to the concept of the “Beep” test.
This improvement was on display at the Complex as some 100 athletes of varying ages from a number of sports turned up.
The TTOC was supported by Tobias Ottley, executive manager of the Sport Company of T&T High Performance Unit and his staff.
It was a fantastic atmosphere. There are some extremely bright and talented young people who have followed their passion and gone and studied sports science, sports medicine, sports nutrition, sports management, sport physiology, bio mechanics, kinesiology etc, and they are willing to give back and make a contribution.
I make the bold prediction that it is these young people who will be the catalyst for the transformation of sport in T&T.
Those who doubt that T&T could be the home of world champions and Olympic gold medals needed to be at the Complex to see for themselves the revolution taking place.
The TTOC is committed to creating the environment that will encourage, engage and empower athletes, youth and young people. They must have a voice and be given equal opportunity.
T&T sport need new ideas, new hopes, new aspirations, new people and more creativity.
This is why the TTOC's Athlete Commission career, mentor and welfare programmes are essential.
If we want T&T to be the breeding ground for young talent. We have to meet our athletes and young people at the point of their need.
The future for the next generation of sport stars can be as bright as we want to make it.
But to do so we must tap in to the vision, enthusiasm and commitment of the athletes and the young people who want to make a contribution. The concept of paying your dues must not be an artificial barrier.
The views, ideas, concerns and voice of the athletes and young people must be welcomed, embraced, empowered and given priority.
Young people must be given a hands on role in spreading the gospel of sport. Investing in youth is a priority. We have an incredibly talented group of young people within T&T sport.
Give them a chance. The faith shown in them will be of immense benefit not only to sport but T&T society on the whole.
Empower them. The future of sport is in the hands, minds, voices and spirit of young people who are determined to make a positive difference.
They need opportunity and positive role models and to be part of a bottom up and grassroots mobilisation that symbolises values of honesty, integrity, excellence and achievement.