Source: www.insidethegames.biz
July 27 - Trinidad & Tobago have dropped plans to bid for the 2018 Commonwealth Games after they were forced to cancel the Caribbean Games because of the swine flu crisis, they announced today.
The Games, scheduled for 12-19 July, was suppose to be a "litmus'" test as to the readiness of the Trinidad & Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) to lodge an official Commonwealth bid to follow Glasgow 2014.
But the cancellation of the event - which the TTOC supported - on the advice of the country's Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation has thrown their plans into confusion.
Larry Romany, the President of the TTOC, said: "As valid and legitimate as the reason for withdrawing may have been.
"The international and regional fall out from T&T's failure to deliver the Games is negative.
"There is no credibly way we could have progressed a bid.
"It simply would not get the required local, Caribbean and International support.
"It would have been an exercise in futility,ego and irresponsibility."
Romany admitted that important lessons were learned from the Caribbean Games failure.
He said: "There were a number of issues that came to the surface.
"Unless and until these are honestly and transparently addressed.
"Progressing a Commonwealth bid would be foolhardy and ill advised.
"The TTOC is preparing a comprehensive ,transparent and accountable report on the Caribbean Games.
"I remain confident that the TTOC can withstand objective scrutiny of its conduct, processes and policies as it relates to all aspects of the ill fated Caribbean Games."
Romany pointed out that the TTOC will have to ensure that it can provide answers when asked to do so at upcoming Olympic and Commonwealth Movement meetings .
He said: "There is a view within the regional and international Olympic movement that T&T over reached ,and overestimated its commitment,capacity, infrastructure, resources and capability to deliver a small multi-sport event.
"That is not the image or conclusion that T&T should accept."
Trinidad's withdrawal leaves the list of prospective bidders as Abuja in Nigeria, Auckland in New Zealand, Australia’s Gold Coast and Nairobi in Kenya.