this is the reson he does not want to run for us savannah
Ato Boldon wants Trinidad and Tobago to be a world power in track and field. And the retired sprint star is willing to play his part in helping the country attain that status.
"I don't have any illusions of coaching anybody. There are people who do a good job coaching-wise, people who have a great passion for the sport, people like Mr (Edwin) Skinner, who really care about the athletes. My role should be to help. Right now, what we lack is people who know what it takes to succeed in modern-day track and field. I'm the piece of the puzzle that's missing."
Boldon, though, will not be part of any programme that is not properly supported, financially and otherwise.
"If they want to put a budget, where we can have some money to help these Olympians of the future, then fine. Failing that, I'll look elsewhere to help and just deal with whatever the repercussions are, as to who doesn't like it. At this stage, I don't have the patience to go through the usual Trini drama. I would like to help my country because my country has given me a lot, but not at the cost of my happiness.
"It's not only financial backing," an indignant Boldon continued, "but some support at a high level. A very good example is Kerron Clement. I talked to him at the US trials, and it's not that he doesn't love Trinidad, but there's such an air and a legacy of a total lack of efficiency. Even though he may not make a US team in life, Clement prefers to represent the US rather than deal with the headache of Trinidad."
But Boldon is confident that T&T's negative image can be changed.
"Anybody who is serious about track and field being a beacon for us on the world stage can do something about it. And not just when it's election time or when the next Darrel Brown shows up. If they're going to be serious about it, like countries like Jamaica and the Bahamas, then certainly I'm interested and would be willing to sit down and talk to whoever. If not, don't complain if I go and do it for somebody else."
The quadruple Olympic medallist told the Express that if T&T does not accept his offer, Canada could become the beneficiary of his knowledge and experience.
"Canada has been embarrassed by their last two Olympic showings, and they want to put things together to make their track programme one to be reckoned with. I'm definitely interested in that. I still have a deep desire to help the sport and pass on some of the knowledge I have gained."
Boldon said that if T&T does respond positively to his offer, he will do everything possible to help the country's young athletes.
"But it's not something I'm going to do by myself. I think I can assemble the people who can do it. Some are Trinidadian and some are not."
The British Broadcasting Corporation's (BBC) coverage of the 1999 World Track and Field Championships in Seville, Spain featured a Trinidadian voice. Forced out of the meet by a hamstring injury, Boldon changed roles and was part of the commentary team.
"I got good reviews for my work."
The 1997 200 metres world champion is hoping to renew his relationship with the BBC.
"Michael Johnson is reportedly not at the BBC anymore, doing track commentary. So that's something I'm definitely interested in; that's something we're going to try to work out as soon as possible."
Boldon said that HSI sprinters Maurice Greene and Inger Miller, coach John Smith and manager Emanuel Hudson all tried to convince him to shelve his retirement plans.
"None of them were convincing enough for me to sway."
The seventh fastest human being in history was, therefore, not among the athletes who turned up for the first day of HSI's off-season training programme, on Monday, November 1.
"Never before had I missed the first day of practice, so it felt a little weird. It may even be enough for me to say okay, I'm going to work out with them a little bit, just so I can begin to take this off-season weight off," Boldon ended. "I'm now about 200 pounds."
