On the 26^th March 2015, twenty-eight (28) members from various sporting organizations concluded the 21^st Sport Administration Course offered by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC). The modules in the course included: Role and Structure of the IOC, Ethics in Sport and Fair play, Communication, Governance in Sport, Constitution, Strategic Planning, Financial Management and Budgeting, Public Relations, Event Management, Sport Medicine, Marketing, Development Pathway and Sponsorship.

The TTOC’s President, Mr. Brian Lewis, gave a heartfelt send off and urged the participants to use the knowledge gained through the course to manage their sporting organizations more effectively.

After the graduation ceremony, participant Ralph Henry of the BCATT, expressed gratitude on behalf of his colleagues for the opportunity to build their capacity in Sport Administration.

“We would like to thank the Olympic Committee for implementing this initiative with the goal of raising the standards in sport. It was a very refreshing and eye-opening course in which we were forced to measure where we were as administrators in our various sporting disciplines, with the aim of making the necessary adjustments within our structure and our approach in sports administration so that we will be able to raise the standards to the necessary level for us to have a solid & comprehensive sporting environment for our athletes”

Ms. Felix who hails from a small community on the North Coast expressed her experience during the 4-week course.

“You cannot conceive to understand the empowerment I have experienced during this course. The facilitators were excellent and very informative, the environment was conducive for learning and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. Your organisation has surpassed all expectations; truly your organisation is a beacon to what all sporting bodies should exemplify” (Nikeisha Felix, North Coast Sports Academy)

Congratulations to the participants of the ­21^st cohort of the Sport Administration Course:

Nataki Akil Bua (Ventures Hockey Club)

Jean Paul Bartholomew (Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard)

Patrice Charles (Trinidad and Tobago Cadet Force)

Johann Corneille (Trinidad and Tobago Refereeing Association)

Paul De Leon (Racing Pigeon Commission of Trinidad and Tobago)

Shawn Deacon (Newtown Athletics Club)

Stacey Dickson (Big Sepos Volleyball Club)

Kamla Elcock  (Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation)

Nikeisha Felix (The North Coast Sports Academy)

Trevor Flower (Trinidad and Tobago Chess Association)

Innocents Hamilton (Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago)

Shurland Hartley (West Penn Sports and Culture)

Francis Haynes (Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation)

Ralph Henry (Basketball Coaches Association of Trinidad and Tobago)

Kenny James (Newtown Athletics Club)

Nadia James (UWI Spec)

Dwane John (Caledonia AIA)

Mary Lane (Bike Smith Cycling Club)

Selwyn Luces (West Penn Sports and Culture)

Honory Mc Donald (Ministry of Sport)

Peter Brent Miller (EFA Referees Department)

Jenelle Nedd Ministry of Sport)

Sharon O’Brien (Trinidad and Tobago Football Association/ TT WoLF)

Claire Orr (Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation)

Natalie Paul Morris (Memphis Pioneers)

Inshan Ramsaroop (TSTT)

Anthony Sanchez (Tennis Association T&T)

Dexter Voisin (NAAA)

Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis’ proposal of an Elite Athlete Housing Assistance Programme is receiving positive support from sports and other  stakeholders in Trinidad and Tobago.

Lewis , who said that the Housing programme would work along similar lines as the Elite Athlete Assistance Programme (EAAP) , envisions that housing for national athletes would be destined to those athletes who dedicate years of their youthful life to representing their country at Olympic and world level sport make tremendous sacrifices in respect of their careers, families , income etc.

"Their choice to dedicate themselves to national duty and service through sport ostensibly place them at a significant social and economic disadvantage. This is a situation and a burden that must be addressed . Currently the burden is a de-motivating one for athletes. Representing TTO at the Olympic and world level should be considered national duty and service," Lewis said.

The former Harvard rugby player said  unlike the EAAP, the Housing programme would  address team sports and the TTOC president is including team sports in the proposed #10golds24 Athlete Housing Assistance programme.

"The TTOC is preparing a request to send to relevant authorities with a view to having the proposed Athlete Housing Assistance Programme implemented as soon as possible," he stated.

Lewis added that there are national athletes who have served TTO with distinction for five years or more who need assistance to obtain HDC housing, and this intitiative aims to give  priority  to those athletes similar to the priority given to members of the national security services.

"I am proposing that a similar policy be implemented for national sports men and women who have a history of long and meritiorous service. Just as is done with the Elite Athlete Assistance Programme, the national sport organisation and the TTOC are well positioned to clarify and confirm those athletes in both team and individual sports that merit favorable consideration under the Elite/High Performance Athlete Housing Assistance Programme," Lewis explained Lewis believes that a policy for housing for national sportsmen and women, with a priority on those who have represented TTO at Olympic and World level in both team and individual sports,  is   a powerful statement of intent in respect of moving away from intangible praise to tangible reward.

"This country's athletes-Sportsmen and women have earned the right to receive consideration. Dedication to national duty and service through sport must no longer place our athletes at a disadvantage and compromise their constitutional and human rights to the dignity of a roof over their heads.

"Implement a Housing for national sportsmen and women aspect of the 100 houses a week distribution drive," Lewis expounded.

“SHE had a smile that was wider than the Atlantic Ocean,” was how Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) secretary Shanomae Nichola Blackmore was remembered yesterday, during her funeral ceremony at the St James-the-Less Anglican Church, David Street, Kitty.Blackmore, who died at home on March 18, was interred at the cemetery of the church yard, following a moving ceremony before a packed church. With over 10 years as a sports administrator, Blackmore, the daughter of former AAG president Claude Blackmore, was an admired official.

In her job as the GOA secretary, Shanomae interacted with many sports stakeholders from the various sporting disciplines, many of whom were present yesterday to pay their final respects to the ever-jovial Blackmore.
Her death has truly had an impact on us. I can only hope that we can find someone who can fit her shoes to replace her,” Aubrey Hutson, AAG president said yesterday as he paid tribute to Blackmore.
He recounted receiving condolences from several international officials including condolences from the world governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)
”As president I never hoped that this would be one of the duties I would have to perform. Myself and the rest of the athletics community, from the president of the IAAF to the athletes have really felt this loss. Shanomae truly touched everyone’s lives.”
Offering condolences on behalf of the GOA was Honorary Life Member, Ivor O’Brien, who also noted the shock and surprise that came with Blackmore’s passing.
I received the message of Shanomae’s death via a telephone call. It was indeed a shocker.” O’Brien expressed.
O’Brien recalled the dedicated individual that Shanomae Blackmore was, speaking of how well thought of she was by all who knew her.
“Despite her youth, history will know her as a true disciple of the Olympic faith. As I followed the emails of condolences that flooded the system, Shanomae was described as friendly, helpful, pleasant, full of life, amazing, compassionate, asset to the sports fraternity and hard-working, among others. To those, I will add ambitious and efficient. Shanomae was at all times an effervescent and intelligent person.
She applied herself assiduously to her duties, and was always willing to work long and punishing hours without supervision or complaint. Fortitude and determination were essential ingredients of her character.” O’Brien said.
Eulogy for Shanomae was done by her brother Anthony Blackmore and her God sister Kriz Glasgow, while the Homily was done by Rev. Canon Evan Semple.

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CAC player and Youth Olympian unbeaten at Saith Park.

AYANA DYETTE played unbeaten and won back-to-back tournaments with a new partner when the second leg of the Trinidad and Tobago Volleyball Federation’s (TTVF) Beach Series served off over the weekend at Saith Park, Chaguanas.

After being half of the dominant pair in the country and English-speaking Caribbean last year, the 28-year-old was forced to combine with Malika Davidson when Nancy Joseph recently decided to take break because of work committments.

Davidson, who played two of the five tournaments in the first leg last month, is undoubtedly a rising star as she and Chelsi Ward flew the red, white and back flag in the World Under-21 Beach Volleyball Championships in Croatia in 2013 and in the Youth Olympic Games in China last year.

Playing their first match together, Dyette and the 19-year-old took some time to get into stride, but managed to recover after the slow start to defeat Elki Philip and Shenelle Gordon 15-21, 21-18, 15-7.

There were just three female pairs involved in the round-robin tournament so when Dyette and Davidson trounced Apphia Glasgow and La Teisha Joseph 21-14, 21-12 they were crowned champs. What made this victory even more impressive was the fact that Glasgow and Joseph had clinched the first leg two weeks ago.

But the youngsters definitely started this one on the backfoot as they were also beaten (22-20, 21-15) by Gordon and Philip. The same three pairs entered the tournament the day after and the order of finish was unchanged. Dyette and Davidson were 21-15, 23-21 winners over Philip and Gordon and then took the title with with a commanding 21-11, 21-14 triumph over Glasgow and Joseph, who also lost (21-13, 13-21, 21-6) against Gordon and Philip.

Dyette and Nancy Joseph first combined in October 2012 and made an immediate impact when they just missed the podium with a fourth-placed effort in the Trinidad leg the NORCECA (North, Central America and the Caribbean) Beach Volleyball Tour.

In addition to competing in six of the ten NORCECA tournaments last year, the top-ranked duo also played unbeaten in nine local events, but left the best for last as they reached the quarterfinals of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Mexico in late November.

It was the second straight CAC Games for Dyette and also the second for Joseph, who made her debut at this level in 2006 and was heavily favoured to make the team four years later, — with Philip — but was forced out of the qualifying series with a knee injury which eventually required surgery.

Joseph, the only beach volleyball nominee for Sportswoman of the Year, and Dyette did return together in the first leg of this year’s TTVF series, and although they were not at this best they did win two of the five tournaments and were narrowly edged by Glasgow and La Teisha Joseph for the top spot.

Both pairs earned the right to play in the first of three legs of Caribbean qualifying for next year’s Olympic Games in Brazil. but as a result of Nancy Joseph’s withdrawal, the third-placed team of Philip and Gordon will accompany La Teisha Joseph and Glasgow to Jamaica late next month.

The second leg of the TTVF series will continue on Saturday and Sunday and conclude next week Saturday. The triumphant male and female pairs will be selected to participate in the Pan American Games in Canada in July.

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Athlete welfare and preparation is a key priority of the ten or more Olympic gold medals by the year 2024 vision (#10G24). In this respect, access to Housing Development Corporation (HDC) houses is an idea that can be advanced under an Elite Athlete Housing Assistance Programme. Representing T&T at the Olympic and World level is national duty and service. It is a declaration that should be meaningful with tangible measures put in place to support such a declaration.

HDC houses for national sportsmen and women with a priority on those who have represented T&T at Olympic and World level in both team and individual sports is in the opinion of the writer a powerful statement of intent that we are serious about supporting our athletes in their quest for excellence.

There are national athletes who have served this country with distinction for five years or more who need assistance to obtain HDC housing.

Just as there is a priority given to members of the national security service, it is proposed that a similar policy be implemented for national sports men and women who have given sustained and meritorious service.

Just as is done with the Elite Athlete Assistance Programme, the national sport organisations and the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) are well positioned to clarify, confirm and recommend those athletes in both team and individual sports that merit favourable consideration under the proposed Elite/High Performance Athlete Housing Assistance Programme.

My one caveat is that the criteria be transparent, fair and just and that it not be based on affiliation to any political party. Athletes, sportsmen and women, should not have to hold any particular party card or declared support.

Let me make it abundantly clear that having benefited from an expedited distribution, the recipient (athlete) must honour their mortgage obligations. At a much elevated level of achievement —an Olympic or World championship gold medal—the precedent has developed where a gift of appropriate housing may be given.

The idea of houses for national athletes, sportsmen and women is simple, athletes who dedicate years of their productive life to representing their country at Olympic and World level sport make tremendous sacrifices in respect of their careers, families, income etc.

Their choice to dedicate themselves to national duty and service through sport ostensibly place them at a significant social and economic disadvantage.

Currently, the burden is a de-motivating one for athletes who aspire to Olympic and World level.

Dedication to national duty and service through sport must no longer place our athletes at a disadvantage and compromise their constitutional and human right to the dignity of a roof over their heads.

Other issues impacting sport include:

• High crime and traffic. Both have made participating in sport and physical activity difficult. There is a pressing need to decentralize sport to the respective communities.

• There are national sport organisations dependent on funding from the Ministry of Sport and the Sport Company of T&T that haven't met their monthly salary obligation to their office staff.

• Those involved in sport are concerned about the future of this country and their family. The young people are concerned about well-paying jobs, first world infrastructural development which will ensure them and their families a high quality of life.

Young people involved in sports aren’t any different. They have the additional worry about their future in sport and the future of sport in the country. The indifference shown to the needs and concerns of sportsmen and women is a demeaning experience that brings into question the sincerity of utterances that sport is important.

Action matters more than talk.

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