Romany apologises to CANOC
Jabari Fraser
Published: 23 Jun 2009
Jabari Fraser
Larry Romany, president of the T&T Olympic Committee, has apologised to the Caribbean National Olympic Committees and Commonwealth Games Associations after the cancellation of the first Caribbean Games due to the influenza A H1N1 virus. On Friday, Minister of Health Jerry Narace announced that the Games, scheduled for July 12-19, would be cancelled.
Romany felt the need to provide an explanation and apology and expressed his deep sense of regret and sadness, having to write on the withdrawal of T&T as host nation for the Games. “I am sorry for all inconveniences resulting from the decision taken but please be assured that the T&T Olympic Movement remain resolute in our support of Caribbean Games and what it represents.”
The T&T Government has already spent $35 million putting infrastructure in place for the Games. Much of this money has been spent on preparation, including repairs to the various venues, such as the athletics facilities at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, and the tennis courts at Shaw Park, Tobago.
Sport authorities from other Caribbean islands have expressed their disappointment at the cancellation of the Games and have also made their concern known about the amount of money that has been spent. Steve Stoute, president of the Caribbean National Olympic Committees, revealed that Barbados had already spent US$50,000, preparing for the Games.
“We spent about US$30,000 on uniforms and that would include shoes and so on.”
Romany said that he appreciates that the Caribbean NOCs and CGAs have dreamt of having their own regional Games for some time and the importance of the Caribbean staging such a competition. “It would have demonstrated our abilities as a people and a region, to successfully put on a multisport event.” Romany pointed out that the cancellation has resulted in feelings of unparalleled disappointment for all of the stakeholders, including athletes, officials, volunteer workers and fans. “It is a painful scenario but one that I believe had to be made in the best interest of the well being of every single athlete, coach, official, volunteer and supporter,” said Romany.
He stated that the T&TOC began liaising with medical advisers since the virus, now a pandemic, emerged in Mexico, to put measures in place to tackle the threat of an outbreak during the inaugural Games.
“At the time we did not envision a cancellation scenario but one of treatment and containment. However, just two weeks ago, cases emerged at three venue areas, Uwispec for indoor volleyball, Tobago for tennis and Chaguanas for beach volleyball. In addition, UWI was also being used for the Village.” After the volleyball world qualifiers were held at the Uwispec, June 2-6, 11 Surinamese players tested positive for the virus on their return home. Subsequently, last Tuesday, one member of the T&T men’s team tested positive. At that time, Mushtaque Mohammed, president of the T&T Volleyball Federation and board member of the Caribbean Games organising committee had said that there would be no fear of volleyball’s inclusion in the Games, only for the entire Games to be cancelled on Friday.
Romany told the Caribbean NOCs that factors influencing the Government’s decision to cancel the Games were the influx of approximately 3,000 people from 40 countries, the 1,500 athletes and officials that would be living and eating in a communal environment and the fact that the virus would spread exponentially in such a situation. Romany ended by saying, “I am sorry for all inconveniences resulting from the decision taken but please be assured that the T&T Olympic Movement remain resolute in our support of Caribbean Games and what it represents.”
