Double-figure medal haul

Source: trinidadexpress.com | By Kwame Laurence kwame.laurence@trinidadexpress.com

Trinidad and Tobago will be represented by a large team at the October 14-30 Pan American Games, in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Larry Romany believes the country's medal haul could reach double figures for the first time in the 60-year history of the event.

"Maybe about nine or ten (medals)."

Romany made the statement on Wednesday, at a press conference at the residence of the Mexican Ambassador at Prada Street, St Clair.

T&T's largest-ever Pan American Games medal haul is seven—a feat achieved at the 1967 Games in Winnipeg, Canada, and repeated both in 1971 in Cali, Colombia, and 2003 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

"We normally look towards track and field for the bulk of the medals. That may be a little difficult, given where these Games are being held—the time (of the year). But I still feel that whoever goes from track and field will have a good showing, and there's a possibility of us picking up maybe two or three medals in track and field.

"In cycling for sure," Romany continued. "I think that we should be able to get a couple medals there. To date we have two people that are qualified in cycling--Njisane Phillip and Emile Abraham, based on the Pan Am Championships that took place earlier this year.

"I'm very hopeful in gymnastics to get a medal. The young man, William Albert, is well-ranked; he's just gotten a scholarship to Iowa University. We expect good things from him."

Romany is also hoping for precious metal in the shooting events.

"Pistol with Roger Daniel. He's going well and we expect him to do well. And Robbie Auerbach, in the trap and skeet, has been coming up well."

The TTOC president said "approximately 150 athletes" will represent T&T in Guadalajara.

"We're hoping for the usual assistance from the Ministry of Sport, in terms of getting the athletes there."

Romany said T&T's performance at the Pan American Games will be a good indicator of what the country can achieve at the 2012 London Olympics.

"We are looking forward to it keenly because we have a number of young athletes that have been showing very well in this quadrennial, and we hope to see them perform at the Pan American Games as a preview to what we can expect at the Olympic Games."

The Parapan American Games, for athletes with a physical disability, will be staged in Guadalajara between November 12 and 20.

"They're a number of athletes," said Romany, "in the disciplines of swimming, track and field and cycling that we're looking at, and hope that we can carry."

Sergio Luna, the Charge D'Affaires at the Mexican Embassy, also spoke at Wednesday's press conference.

"We are certain that these will be the best Pan American and Parapan American Games in history. On October 14, millions of eyes will look upon the opening ceremonies of what will be the greatest sports event to be hosted by the Mexican nation since the 1986 World Cup."

The host city, Guadalajara, is the capital of Jalisco—a state famous for its many brands of tequila.

"Today," Luna said on Wednesday, "100 days from the start of the Pan American Games, it is impossible not to recognise the significance of the development of the sports facilities within the state of Jalisco. The Games will leave a long-term legacy to Jalisco, by the construction of 23 sports stadiums and the renovation of three other venues. It is a reality that all Mexicans should be proud of.

"The Games," the Charge D'Affaires continued, "will result in an economic windfall of US$2.7 billion, equivalent to four times the total value of Jalisco's tequila exports during 2010."