THA Chief Secretary Orville London had raised the issue with the T&T Olympic Association and other sporting authorities in Port of Spain but was told by the committee that it was too late to make the change to include Tobago and was promised that it would be done by the next international athletic event.
He also said the athletic track at the Dwight Yorke Stadium will be re-laid hopefully before the end of this year’s dry season. He recalled that Chairman of the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago Sebastian Paddington has assured that requests for proposals will soon be invited for the job. The recent Falcon Games had to be shifted to the Hasely Crawford because of the condition of the track at the Dwight Yorke Stadium.
London made the disclosure at Wednesday’s post Executive Council media briefing while commending the 11 Tobago athletes who participated in the recent Carifta Games in Bermuda.
He noted that out of a national team of 45 athletes, Tobago had 11 members and of those 11 athletes ten returned with medals. He further explained that of the six gold medals earned by the national team, Tobago athletes copped four of them, one of the six silver medals and five of the seven bronze medals.
“Basically,” he added, “Tobago would have done on its own, almost as well as Trinidad and better than many of the other countries of the Caribbean. In fact Trinidad and Tobago was able to improve its standing from 43rd and although its medal tally could have been better I think that we have to compliment our young athletes, the coaches, the parents and all the support staff who would have contributed to those achievements.”
London who welcomed the Tobago contingent at the ANR Robinson International Airport on their return on Monday said there was cause to celebrate the achievements of the Tobago athletes at the Carifta Games and Tobagonians must take a little time and appreciate what these young people have done.
He told the athletes on their return that they have to understand how serious the challenge was outside of Trinidad and Tobago and they definitely cannot afford to rest on the laurels. “I was very heartened that many of them were able to achieve their best personal times or their best personal throws, as the case may be or jump and this signifies that they can in fact produce under pressure but athletics is a very precious activity, especially these days and we want to wish them the best,” London said.
Assisting T&T in finishing third in the Games’ standing were gold medal performers Mark London – 800m in one minute, 55.56 seconds; Kenejah Williams – discuss 50.36; Chelsea James – shot putt 14.02m and Andwelle Wright – long jump 6.84m.
London also enjoyed bronze and silver medals in the 1500m and shot putt with a clocking of 4.06.64 and a throw of 16.75 respectively.
Also medalling were Ron Wright and Nicholas Douglas who were members of the bronze 4x100m relay team while Douglas also got a bronze in the 100m and Andwelle’s brother Atiba, leapt 7.22min the long jump to earn a bronze medal.