jul.21.2008

Sports is one of the pillars of our national development asserted Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs,Gary Hunt yesterday at the closing of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee(TTOC) 2008 Olympic Youth Camp.

Hunt gave the feature address at the ceremony held at the Athlete Lounge in the Hasely Crawford Stadium.Speaking to a large audience that included past and present TTOC Olympic youth campers,parents and sport administrators,the Minister also commended the national Olympic committee for the outstanding youth development and social legacy work it was doing via the Youth Camp.

Camp coordinator Tanya Western noted that the TTOC Olympic youth camp established six years ago is the brainchild of current secretary general Brian Lewis and that hosting the camp on an ongoing basis is a labour of love for the TTOC.

Lewis in his turn at the lectern said that the mission of the Olympic Youth Camp is to foster positive self-esteem and self confidence in an environment that holds up sport as a meaningful eneavour that is integrated with art,education,culture and the environment.

Six groups of Youth Campers gave well received summaries of their group discussions on various aspects of sport and Olympism.

The programme also featured a soulful rendition by the 2008 youth camp participants of R.Kelly's song 'The worlds greatest'.

During the ten day non-residential camp the participants heard presentations from leading sport personalties such as Shaka Hislop,Deryck Murray,Michael Phillips,Dr.Iva Gloudon, TTOC president Larry Romany ,former Sport Company CEO Carol Charles Austin and Anil Roberts to name a few.

The TTOC Olympic Youth Camp is organised by the TTOC's Olympic Academy,Education and Culture(OAEC) Sub-Committee and is financially supported by Olympic Solidarity.

The T&T Representatives at the upcoming Beijing Olympic Youth Camp,Safiya Beckford and Dario Clement, gave a preview of the culturally presentation that they will do while in China.