Distinguished Ladies and Gentleman

In the summer of 2002 I traveled from Baltimore to Port-of-Spain to London and finally to Manchester to represent Trinidad and Tobago. This was my first National Team. The team was in Manchester for the commonwealth games, and I was excited to represent my country. After the longest journey ever, I was presented with my competition uniform. I immediately realized that key pieces were missing and I become horrified. However, I was lucky to have a friend from Secondary School on the team, and he provided a lot of support and advice. My friend warned me that it is not always easy to represent Trinidad & Tobago. His advice made me feel as if I was a member of a team of athletes, coaches, medical and administrative personal, and we were all doing our best to make our country proud.

While things have improved over the years on team T&T, there is still a lot of room for growth. A challenge has been set by TTOC president, Mr. Brian Lewis, to win ten Olympic gold medals by 2024. Today ladies and gentlemen I'll like to briefly explore what it takes to meet such as challenge. To meet this goal we must become the kind of country that strategically produces champions. We must ask ourselves, is it possible for Trinidad and Tobago to evolve into a sport loving, butt kicking, hard working, sacrifice making, Olympic medal winning nation? I dear to say “yes it's possible”.

In the history of the Olympic Games Trinidad and Tobago has won two gold medals, so if we want to win 8 additional gold medals in less than 10 years we have to make drastic changes. To reach our target team Trinidad and Tobago will have to win approximately 2.66 gold medals at 2016, 2020 & 2024 Olympic Games. This is by no means an easy undertaking, but it is possible. Canada, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, Portugal, Greece and Argentina, are all established sporting nations, but each won less than 2 gold medals at the London Olympic Games. However, I still believe it is possible for Team T&T to meet the challenge set by Mr. Lewis.

It's possible, not easy, but possible. How can we compete against, and perform better than countries that have bigger budgets, better facilites, and larger populations than Trinidad and Tobago? The answer is quite simple, we have to put our people first! Yes honorable guest the answer is simple, but not easy. Today I'll like to purpose five steps that can take us closer to winning 10 Olympic Gold Medals by 2024.

The first step is to create a large pool of coaches, sport administrators, sport medicine personal and support staff.

The staff ranging from volunteers to full time professionals will administer training programs, keep our athletes injury free and provide other services athletes need to succeed. Our local athletes are talented, and they need the guidance of a cohesive coaching and technical staff. Can coaching and the various fields necessary for athlete development evolve into a full time career paths here in Trinidad and Tobago? I believe it's possible. Do you?

The second step is it to create a large pool of potential Olympic athletes.

Our coaches have to Recruit! Recruit! Recruit! Talent identification is key to this endeavor, and every young Trinbagonian should be considered a potential medalist. Therefore, we must develop a sporting culture in this nation, which starts at an early age, and matures into adulthood. The importance of physical education classes and after school sport clubs can not be exaggerated, they contain our next generation of champions. In addition, we must encourage young girls to participate in sport, and see it as a viable career path.

Ladies and gentlemen as a young girl growing up in Mayaro, I was not afforded the opportunity to truly participate in Track and Field. It saddens me when I speak to young people from rural areas and opportunities are still limited. Trinidad and Tobago has produced many world class athletes from our rural areas, the time has come for us to maximize our talent nation wide. I ask you today, do you believe we can introduce sport to even more of our young citizens? I believe it's possible. Do you?

The next step is to select our target Olympic Events.

This is necessary because it is quite challenging for any country to sponsor individuals in all Olympic events. This does not mean that we stop participating in a wide variety of events, but more resources must go towards targeted events. We must decide where we have the best chance to medal, and invest in those events. Exposure of athlete's to target events will be wise. More events can be added over time as the program develops. Can we expect to see greater success if we focus on the areas where we are most talented? I believe it's possible. Do you?

The 4th step is to provide the basic needs of our athletes – healthy food, clothing and shelter.

Far to many of our athletes are unable to meet these basic needs. However, many choose to work and represent Trinidad and Tobago. Is it possible for this nation to provide a home for individuals training for the Olympic Games? I say yes its possible. Can we provide a world class Olympic training center? I believe it's possible. Do you?

The final step is to provide necessary equipment, facilities and technological expertise.

To produce the kind of success we desire it is imperative that our athletes have the tools necessary to practice their sport. Once again we have made strides in this area, but it will take more if we are interested in producing multiple Olympic gold medals. It is my opinion that our athletes and coaches have done well in light of the obstacles faced. However, more is needed if we are serious about winning Olympic goal medals. I ask you once again esteem members of the sporting fraternity, can we meet the needs of our athletes? I believe it's possible. Ladies and gentlemen I leave you with the words of Paulo Coelho: There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve, (that is) the fear of failure.


Thank you

National field athletes, Keshorn Walcott (javelin) and Cleoplatra Borel (shot put) captured the 2014 Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year awards respectively at last night’s annual awards ceremony which got underway at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), Port-of-Spain.

Both athletes are coached by Cuban Ismael Mastrapa. Over the past 12 months, both Walcott and Borel produced several highly commendable results in their respective athletic disciplines.

Walcott, reigning Olympic gold medallist, claimed top honours after silencing critics with a mammoth and personal best distance of 85.77 metres in Zurich, Switzerland at the Diamond League. He also secured silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with the a 82.67m distance.

Borel showed consistency throughout by launching the sphere 18.99m to cop gold at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Veracruz, Mexico. Prior to this, Borel also cemented her name among the world’s best shot putters by holding on to silver (18.57m) at the Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, quarter-miler Machel Cedenio and 100m specialist Aaliyah Telesford took the honours of Junior Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year. Cedenio dominated both the local and regional circuit by bagging gold at the IAAF World Junior Championships and in the Under-20 Carifta Championships.

Also receiving the coveted Alexander B Chapman Award for contribution to sport and Olympism was former national football coach, Bertille St Clair.

Sports Personality of the Year went to Olympic swimmer George Bovell III.

Delegates attending last night’s gala ceremony were Olympic committee president Brian Lewis, Minister of National Security Gary Griffith, TT’s first Olympic gold medallist Hasely Crawford, acting SporTT CEO Adrian Raymond and a host of this nation’s most prized sporting assets.



Awardees

Sportsman of the Year: Keshorn Walcott (javelin)

Sportswoman of the Year: Cleopatra Borel (shot put)

Alexander B Chapman Award: Bertille St Clair

Junior Sportsman of the Year: Machel Cedenio (400m)

Junior Sportswoman of the Year: Aaliyah Telesford (100m).

Source

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis says the ten golds 24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund, from which he will raise awareness by participating in the 2015 Trinidad International Marathon on January 25, will also provide for athletes falling outside the conventional subventions and those who have fallen on hard times.

#10golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund will give athletes freedom to pursue sporting excellence

TTOC President Brian Lewis will launch the #10golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund on January 25th, 2015 by participating in the 2015 Trinidad International Marathon. Lewis hopes to raise $500,000TT for the Fund through his participation.

The vision of #10golds 24(10 or more Olympic Gold medals by 2024) is to further enable national athletes to realize their Olympic dreams. It will provide financial assistance to Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes to enable them to train, recover and compete.

Training to be an Olympic champion is a full time commitment requiring significant time and resources. The pursuit of excellence by an athlete to fulfil the dream of qualifying for the Olympic Games and climbing the medal podium, demands years of dedication, sacrifice and single minded focus. This fund will be dedicated to preparing athletes to represent Trinidad and Tobago, and in the ongoing pursuit and achievement of excellence in the Olympic Games and life.

The fund will cover several items in support of athlete development. These include:

Direct support (stipend) and out of pocket expenses Medal bonus Health and Accident Insurance (Providing world class medical support to our top athletes is of paramount importance. Injury and illness can threaten an athlete's career if they're not identified and dealt with quickly.) Internships with Corporate T&T to prepare for life after elite sport

Lifeskills training

“Many of our nation’s elite and high performance athletes are not financially well rewarded, and without financial support are unable to reach their potential,” said Brian Lewis, President of the TTOC. “The wellbeing of our athletes, sportsmen and sports women is paramount to the TTOC, and this fund will enable our athletes to develop their sporting abilities and achieve consistent world class performances, fairly and ethically.”

The lack of dedicated financial support throughout the stages of an athlete's long term development has ended and or compromised the dream of many talented young men and women. Trinidad and Tobago’s elite and high performance athletes need to have the freedom and flexibility and to dedicate more time, money and energy into their athletic endeavours.

The TTOC welcomes the support of the business community and private citizens in this venture. The fund will provide national athletes with a dedicated resource and bridge the gap between success on and off the field.

22 December , Port of Spain,

Today we launch the #10golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund, and, as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness of this much-needed initiative, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee President Brian Lewis  will participate (walk) in the 2015 Trinidad International Marathon, scheduled for January 25th .

The path to Olympic success requires full time commitment and and unstinting dedication. To be competitive, our elite and high performance athletes, both in individual and team sports need to be able to dedicate much more time and energy to their endeavors. For this to happen they need money.

Winning a medal at the Olympics demands years of sacrifice and single minded focus.

Many of our top athletes are not financially equipped to afford the time required to realize  their full potential. Simply put, without our financial support, they can't be the best that can be.

As a nation, we have a history of providing financial rewards for our athletes after they have succeeded. There are far too many untold stories of talented young men and women who, not for want of effort, have had to give up their Olympic dream because they did not have the financial support to dedicate themselves fully.

The vision of #10golds 24 (10 or more Olympic Gold medals by 2024) is to enable Trinidad and Tobago's athletes to realize their full potential and their Olympic dreams.

The  #10golds24 Athlete Welfare and Preparation Fund will provide financial assistance to our Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games athletes to enable them to train, recover and compete.

The Fund will seek to provide:

#direct support (stipend) to cover day-to-day living expenses

#medal bonus to reward success

#Health and Accident Insurance: Providing world class medical support for our top athletes is of paramount importance. Injury and illness can threaten an athlete's career if not identified and dealt with quickly.

#internships with Corporate T&T to prepare for life after sport #lifeskills training.