PERFORM OR ELSE!
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com By Mark Pouchet
October 29, 2010
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts yesterday congratulated athletes on their achievements this year before telling them to consistently perform at a high level or risk losing funding.
At a function to honour this country's medallists at the Central American and Caribbean Games (CAC), the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and the Commonwealth Games yesterday at Movie Town in Port of Spain, Roberts said elite athletes were being rewarded for their sacrifices and feats.
But the former radio/tv show host said that these athletes, seeking to compete against the world's best in the Mexico 2011 Pan American Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games, will be evaluated and their performances assessed before Government determine the level of funding they will receive.
"Let me explain something. We have a Minister of Finance who would not pay 25 cents to see an ant wine, so when they give me that money that could have gone to hospitals or education, we definitely are not going to waste it." said Roberts. " Those who want and love their sport and are passionate about it and are disciplined in training will get full support. Those who feel they want to stop and do SEA and then come by the Ministry to get money to go Carifta, have a barbeque. Those who feel they want to do everything, they want to go Olympics in one sport but want to have a sweat in another sport, have a carwash. That is not happening anymore. Understand, the elite level programme is going to be well organised and well audited....It will be for serious athletes with serious records with serious audits on their performances."
Roberts said elite sport was neither for the faint-hearted nor cry babies and is measured by one benchmark:
"Winning!", he said.
Roberts, who resumed coaching top T&T swimmer George Bovell back in September, added it is possible to make great athletes in limited facilities but having great facilities and insufficient and unqualified coaches did not ensure medal-winning athletes.
Roberts said he will perform a complete analysis that would include athletes, coaches and national sporting organisation administrators.
"So that in London 2012, we will be looking to mount the podium. Too many times we have said we want someone to join Hasely Crawford but it is not going to happen by mistake or with any short-cuts. It is going to happen with hard, torturous work , a lot of funding from the Ministry of Sport, and a lot of intelligence from our coaches and support from our administrators." he said.
Roberts added that the athletes were now going to be held to very high standards based on performance and results.
"We all have potential; potential to do a lot of things but a great coach told me once, potential means you haven't done anything yet," he concluded.