mar.27.2009

Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) secretary Louise Martin, will visit Trinidad from April 2-5 as part of the CGF’s commitment to assist in the success of the inaugural Caribbean Games which will be hosted here in July.

The primary objective of her visit is to audit the protocol policies and procedures established by the 2009 Caribbean Games Local Organizing Committee protocol sub-committee .

Martin,the driving force behind Glasgow's successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games commands a huge degree of respect as a sport administrator in the UK and the wider Commonwealth.

She was elected the Hon Secretary of the Commonwealth Games Federation for a third term at the General Assembly in 2007. The first woman to hold a post on the CGF Executive, she was also the first woman Chairman of the Scottish Commonwealth Games Council, and was awarded the CBE for services to the Commonwealth Games in 2003.She competed in the Commonwealth Games in Perth, Australia where she made the swimming finals in 100m and 200m backstroke.

Since retiring from competitive sport Martin has held various positions in a number of sporting areas. She represented Scotland in the 2012 Olympic Bid Regional Group .Having led Scotland’s Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid. She is now Vice Chair of the Organising Committee for the Games and was appointed Chair of sportscotland in May 2008.

Several other members of the international sporting community have also extended their assistance to the TTOC with regard to the Caribbean Games including the Canadian Olympic Committee which is aiding in international accreditation as well as in facilitating protocols for volunteer procedures and operations. The Brazilian Olympic Committee at the request of the TTOC recently sent a two man delegation to review aspects of the Caribbean Games plan.

"The support of our International Olympic and Commonwealth Games colleagues is key to the fulfillment of the inaugural event mandate of adhering to international standards.Whether it’s procedure or infrastructure, we are committed to achieving world level standards at the Caribbean Games 2009,” said Larry Romany, president, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), “this is the inaugural edition of these Games which will be held every four years. These standards must be set as a model for the future,” Romany explained.

The TTOC has expressed an interest in bidding to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2009 Caribbean Games will be a litmus test for the TTOC.