dic.23.2008

The strategic focus on building the human resource and knowledge capacity among the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee's (TTOC) thirty eight affiliates will continue in the 2009- 2012 quadrennial says Larry Romany, president of the organisation.

Romany’s four year term of office expires next year and he has confirmed that he will seek re election for a second and final term. The TTOC Constitution sets a two term limit for all positions on the Executive with the exception of Secretary General. Romany was elected as the TTOC’s ninth president in April 2005, succeeding Douglas Camacho.

Next Year, in addition to its normal schedule of coaching , sports administration and sport science courses, the TTOC has on its drawing board Sport Law, and Sport Development conferences.

Romany said that the hosting of the Caribbean Games next year will not see a reduction in activities.

"We [TTOC] cannot let up if we are serious about achieving 2012 and 2016 Olympic medal objectives, there must be an emphasis on building and growing the base of the pyramid. Development and high performance are integrated. Sports development needs to become the priority, that shortcoming remains a failure here in T&T and the TTOC has an important role to play in identifying, and advocating for the bridging of that gap"

The national Olympic chief cautions that T&T runs the risk of falling behind the other Caribbean nations.

"We have had warning signals in a number of sports, but choose to believe that it is an aberration. It is not. The reality is that it is a reflection of the absence of a systemic sport development ecosystem. We continue to delude ourselves into believing that we are doing things right on the basis that we have had some successes. However the lack of consistence tells the true tale. It is essential to identify the best practice for what we need and get the right people, in the right places"