The T&T Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC) yesterday launched the St George West Sporting Academy at a press conference, at the VIP Lounge at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, in Port of Spain. The academy will feature other sports alongside boxing such as football and basketball and will feature communities in "hot spot" areas from Carenage to Laventille. Programme Director Lennox Smith, a social activist, said that sports will be used as a catalyst to venture into other areas such as community and social issues as well as creating job opportunities.
"This academy will be a lot different the sports will be a catalyst to venture into other areas such as community and social issues.It will address individuals whose home need to be repaired, so it would be in conjunction with other ministries and other institutions.It will provide support that will help create employment opportunities and entrepreneurial development for persons," explaned Smith. The "home " for the sporting academy will be based at the Hasely Crawford Stadium and the Woodbrook Youth Facility. Smith add that the inactive was to bring the academy into the communities and then bring it to other centralized locations, but due to financial constraints such plans were not possible. Registration for the sporting academy begins today at its office at 7 Delhi Street, St James, Port of Spain for community groups, sporting organizations.
The academy will kick off with a box off ttomorrow at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Also speaking at the at Press conference was Sport Minister Anil Roberts commending and supporting the T&TBBC for launching the accademy. He said: "Its a sporting academy, its a school, its a early child hood center, its a place to create family life its a community center to provide services, advise to learn from one another. Sport is just being used as a catalyst. We heard from time and time again the crime problem is not just a national security issue, no child is born a criminal, every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago has potential to be great."
-Liam Gordon
Source: www.guardian.co.tt