If Brand T&T is to become a world class global sport brand the challenge is to move from talk to action and to do so, not someday but now.
The TTOC (T&T Olympic Committee) held its first Sports Marketing and Business of Sport Conference last Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port-of-Spain. The event was well attended with high profile speakers including Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith and permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Joan Mendez.
Stakeholders in T&T sport were challenged to take a personal responsibility in helping establish a thriving sport business in the country during the conference themed “Towards Economic Growth and Diversification”.
Some 100 thought leaders, influencers and key decision makers from sport, finance, media, technology, investment and government discussed key issues, challenges, exchanged ideas and insights and proposed solutions and new relationships capable of helping to shape the future of sport and the sports industry.
Among the key takeaways from the day’s discussion were:
T&T, home to some of the best known athletes in the world and the top properties in global sport: The goal is to build and scale a T&T multibillion dollar Sports Industry by year 2030.
TTOC will establish a Think Tank that will brainstorm strategic discussions in respect of finance, investment, communications, event planning, marketing, business development and public relations as it relates to the development of a sport business industry master plan and a unique selling proposition (USP).
Maximising assets and investing in the future: The need for immediate action, a new paradigm and a rethink.
How can the sports ecosystem in T&T leverage and seize upon the commercial revenue opportunities locally, regionally and globally.
Global trends in respect of the growth of social media platforms, mobile consumption and services create significant opportunities for Brand T&T.
Marketing T&T as a destination for sports events and meetings, including regional and continental single sport championships, Continental and International Federations general assemblies and International Federations Elite Training Centres.
T&T can be a serious player in global sport and a pioneer and best practice case study on how a small Island state can use sport to diversify its national economy and link sport to other sectors of tourism.
T&T is a multibillion dollar sport and entertainment business: Strategically spending and investing in sport, marketing and positioning Brand T&T.
Building the economic footprint and attracting foreign direct investment into the T&T sports ecosystem with the specific goal of building commercial revenues.
The TTOC intends to progress the inaugural National Beach Games in 2017 and position T&T as the Beach Games capital of the region with Tobago as the Beach Games epicentre.
T&T Sports Hub—A coherent and integrated sports monetization strategy is to be developed with the involvement of local and foreign expertise.
Team TTO Beach Games National Delegation-With approximately 20 sports to feature at the inaugural ANOC (Association of National Olympic Committees) 2017 World Beach Games in San Diego, USA. The TTOC intends to use the inaugural National Beach Games proposed for second quarter 2017 as a selection showcase.
Digital media will play an important role in growing the economic footprint and increasing the level of engagement with fans.
Opportunities for growth include beach games, mass participation events (MPEs), women’s sport, extreme sports and esports.
The challenge of taking the required action, changing the mind set and rethinking rests with T&T sports stakeholders.
Legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Individual commitment to a group effort is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Brian Lewis is president of the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC). The views expressed are not necessarily those of the Olympic Committee. Support #10 Golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund. Donations can be made at any branch of Scotiabank account number 171188.