Minister of Sport : Athletes must justify investment with results
Teenage swimmer Christian Homer (right) is presented with a package by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts during a ceremony held in honour of T&T’s participants at the Commonwealth and CAC Games at Movie Towne’s Conference and Banquet Centre yesterday. PHOTO: CLAYTON CLARKE
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts said that his administration would not tolerate any mediocrity from T&T’s elite athletes once the Ministry is investing in them. Roberts was speaking during a ceremony held in honour of T&T’s participants at the Commonwealth and CAC Games at the Banquet and Conference Centre in Movie Towne yesterday. After formally congratulating those in the audience, including Commonwealth medallists Tariq Abdul Haqq, Ayanna Alexander, Roger Daniel and Rhodney Allen, Roberts advised them to begin focusing on the 2012 Olympics in London. “We are very proud of you. So for now, congratulations,” he said, “but that thing done. You are now starting from zero and going again.” He quickly reminded them that they needed to justify the amount of money being spent on elite athletes since it could be put to use in other areas.
“When I go in Cabinet to argue and shout for money, I am taking money away from hospital beds, from road drainage, from school feeding programmes, from all sorts of different uses,” he said. “So when they give me that money for you, we are definitely not going to waste it. If you feel that we are taking money from babies in the hospital to play the fool with it, that’s not happening anymore!” While he acknowledged the value of good sportsmanship and diplomacy, the Minister stressed the importance of the bottom line. “Elite level sport is serious business and its one and only benchmark is winning. When we’re talking about elite level funding and a lot of money, we’re talking about winning.”
Roberts took a jab at the previous administration’s handling of the Elite Athletes Assistance Programme, insisting that it would be running more efficiently under his watch. “They spent a lot of money over the last nine years, but understand that our programme will be well-organised and well-audited. Serious athletes with serious records will have a serious audit of their performances.” He advised those who did not show consistent improvement to raise their own funds via car washes, barbecues or bake sales, adding that it was the athletes’ duty to live up to the expectations of those who had invested in them.
“When you accept money, you have an awesome responsibility to perform. You have to ensure that so give it your all. Sponsors don’t have to sponsor you. Sponsors want to buy your brand. They want to link their product to your brand so they could sell more and make more money, end of text. So if you understand that, you have to ensure that you protect that brand.” In conclusion, Roberts pledged his commitment to T&T’s next Olympic campaign and encouraged the country’s athletes to strive for further success. “As we go forward we will work together to make our nation proud in 2012,” he said. “It’s not going to happen by mistake and it’s not going to happen with any short cuts. It’s going to happen with hard, tortuous work, a lot of intelligence from our coaches and a lot of funding and support from the Ministry of Sport.”
Commonwealth Games Honour Role
Silver:
Ayanna Alexander (Triple Jump),
Tariq Abdul Haqq (Super Heavyweight Boxing),
Roger Daniel (25m Standard Pistol),
Cleopatra Borel-Browne (Shot Put).
Bronze: Rhodney Allen & Roger Daniel (50m Pistol Pair),
Aaron Armstrong (100m).