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Sports => What about Track & Field => Olympic Discussion => Topic started by: Flex on August 16, 2012, 02:20:09 AM

Title: Money for Youths.
Post by: Flex on August 16, 2012, 02:20:09 AM
Money for Youths
Petrotrin programme for 2016 prospects
By Kern De Freitas (Express).


In the aftermath of Trinidad and Tobago's record four-medal Olympic haul, local athletes are already in line to benefit, with Petrotrin announcing a $2 million Athletic Development Programme.

At a media conference at Petrotrin's Queen's Park West office building, chairman Lindsay Gillette yesterday announced the new endeavour, which he stressed is for up-and-coming athletes, and not T&T's elites. A maximum eight track and field athletes, four swimmers, four boxers and four cyclists will receive assistance over the next four years.

But there are some conditions under which athletes will not only qualify for funding, but keep receiving it.

The athletes must have a "high participation in sport" and "realistic chances" of reaching the Rio 2016 Olympics, as well as being deemed "deserving of assistance".

They must also have "track records to suggest that they are on the verge of greatness" and "likely to achieve success".

Team sports are not included in the sponsorship, while academic performance and behaviour are also criteria being considered for athlete assistance. Persons receiving Government assistance will also be ineligible.

The funds will be disbursed in tranches of $500,000 per year, and athletes will be monitored to ensure they continue to meet the Programme's criteria. That works out to $24,000 per year for each athlete, to be delivered through their respective sporting associations.

"We are confident that we are putting in place a practical programme which will provide the support where it is most needed--at the individual level," Gillette said following his announcement.

Gillette said although the initiative is a new one, Petrotrin's efforts to assist athletes are not.

"We don't want to just give out money (to athletes); we want to support them in everything possible." The former T&T senator said athletes require things like nutrition and proper gear, and that funding is usually only forthcoming after big performances.

"People wait for an athlete to get a gold medal or a silver or a bronze medal," Gillette reasoned, "before they begin supporting or are ready to get some support in the future, when in fact what an athlete requires is a lot of support before the actual achievement."

Gillette also took issue with a recent letter to the editor that called for London 2012 Olympics 50-metre freestyle finalist George Bovell to retire, pointing out that it takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to compete at a high level.

"For George to swim sub-22 (seconds), which is 21.77, from a 22.04 (clocking)...requires two years or three years of training on a continuous basis, giving up all your parties, training morning, training noon, training night, sometimes (and) going to different championships. Those (improvements by) points of a second require a lot of dedication."

Also at the media conference were National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) president Ephraim Serrette, Amateur Swimming Association of T&T (ASATT) assistant secretary Neal Marcano, T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF) president Rowena Williams and T&T Amateur Boxing Association (TTABA) president, Cecil Forde. The sporting representatives thanked Petrotrin for their assistance, while Serrette said it would allow them to extend their current athlete support efforts.

"We have athletes who benefit from the (Ministry of Sport) elite funding, and this would allow the NAAA to reintroduce a programme that we had started a couple of years ago, called 'Poor but Talented Athletes'," Serrette said.

"This is going to allow us to reintroduce this programme using the criteria to select athletes, male and female, to benefit from such an initiative."

Title: Re: Money for Youths.
Post by: Flex on August 16, 2012, 02:22:37 AM
Petrotrin to assist athletes with Olympic preparation
By KEVIN SUNICH Thursday, August 16 2012


TWENTY local athletes will be recipients of bursaries from Petrotrin to aid in their preparation to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

The announcement was made by Petrotrin’s Chariman Lindsay Gillette at a press conference at the company’s Port-of-Spain office, Corner Cipriani Boulevard and Queen’s Park West, yesterday.

Gillette said the petroleum company has committed to funding to the tune of $2 million dollars ($2,000,000.00), which will be disbursed in tranches of $500,000 per year. Each of the athletes will receive $2,000 a month and $24,000 a year.

The chairman said the programme is designed to help young, talented and deserving athletes. “This is not about elite funding. This is about helping young athletes at the grassroots level to realise their full potential. Therefore in collaboration with the National Sporting Organisations, we will be assisting sportsmen and women in the fields of swimming, cycling, athletics and boxing”, said the chairman.

He indicated that eight of the athletes will come from track and field, four from swimming, four from cycling and four from boxing. Gilette said T&T is destined for greatness and Petrotrin will play its part as the country moves proactively towards this vision.

He made it clear however the athletes will have to meet certain requirements. They must have a realistic chance of making Rio 2016 and must have a high participation in sport and should be talented and deserving of assistance.

He added that they should have a track record to suggest that they are on their way to greatness and should be participating in individual events. They must also have a good overall academic performance and should not be on scholarship or in receipt of Government funding.

Petrotrin’s president Khalid Hassanali said while the 2012 Olympics team made the country proud, there should be no resting on laurels. “Today therefore, Petrotrin, as is its long practice, will be looking forward with deliberate strategy and commitment in preparation for the Rio 2016 Olympics”, said Hassanali.

Meanwhile president of the National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) Ephrim Serrette described the initiative as a very good one.

“This will go a long way in motivating the athletes to achieve similar or better results than our 2012 Olympic team. I see this as preparing the athletes who are bordering the elite funding to get them to that level”, said Serrette.

An elated president of the T&T Amateur Boxing Association (TTABA) Cecil Forde said this is the first time that the sport has been given this opportunity. “In all our history we have never had a corporate sponsor that has come on board to take us to the next level. This is going to help us tremendously because we are used to begging for financial help. Most of the time we had to rely on the government, but now we have a sponsor”, said Forde.

The TTABA president said they will embrace this initiative and take their boxers to the next level.

Title: Re: Money for Youths.
Post by: weary1969 on August 16, 2012, 12:25:58 PM
Govt funding again where Sagicor/Scotiabank/Republic Bank?
Title: Re: Money for Youths.
Post by: Sando prince on October 26, 2015, 10:47:34 AM

VIDEO Report; https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10153718599782996/ (https://www.facebook.com/CNC3Television/videos/10153718599782996/)

Quote
HELP FOR OLYMPIC ATHLETES

The Guardian Group presented a cheque on Friday Olympic Committee to assist local athletes in their well-being ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games.
It comes at a good time as athletes fine tune ahead of Rio.
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