Lord Sebastien Coe, President of World Athletics, the governing body for the sport of track and field has hailed the regional Carifta Track and Field Games as the best junior Championships for athletes in the world.
The two-time Olympic champion in the 1,500 metres in 1980 and 1984, was speaking at the joint opening ceremony for both the Track and Field and Aquatics Carifta Games at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Port-of Spain, on Friday.
Lord Coe, the chairman of the London Olympic Games 2012, said: “I’m delighted to be here on the 52nd edition of the Carifta Games. That in itself is an extraordinary achievement, but six of those editions have taken place in Trinidad and Tobago is absolutely testament to the importance and role that sport at every level plays in this beautiful country.
“This is my eighth Carifta Games. It is the first event that goes into my calendar every year and I’m delighted on that basis to be joined by many of my global council members and colleagues who also understand the importance of this event.”
Lord Coe noted that Mike Sands, President of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) in his address observed that this is arguably the best junior championship in the world, but Lord Coe went a step further.
“I rarely disagree with Mike Sands, but I’m going to go one stage further. I don’t think this is arguable, this in athletics is the most important junior competition in the world,” boasted Lord Coe.
He also thanked T&T Olympic’s first-ever gold medal winner Hasely Crawford for being an inspiration to him and so many athletes the world over.
Lord Coe said, “It’s also fitting that it should take place in this iconic Hasely Crawford Stadium. One of my inspirations to join the ranks of international athletics was the extraordinary performance, persona, passion and commitment of Hasely, epitomised in the extraordinary 1976 Olympic 100m. Hasely, I’m glad you are with us today. I’m not surprised you’re sitting with the athletes on the finishing line. Thank you for being such an inspirational figure to me and for the many of you who also know the impact that Hasely has had.”
Among others who addressed the athletes and spectators were World Aquatics president Captain Husain Al Musallam, who is also in T&T as part of a high-level regional tour that includes attendance at the prestigious Carifta Aquatics Championships, Pan American Aquatics President Maureen Croes, Sport Company of T&T (SporTT) chairman Larry Romany, Prime Minister Stuart Young, and Minister of Sports and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe.
The day’s activities also included a walk past of the participating 28 countries in both the Carifta Aquatics and Track and Field Championships to the music of the T&T Fire Service, T&T Prison Service and T&T Police bands, Ta’zyah O’Connor, the 2023 Calypso Monarch, BP Renegades pannist Emmanuel Joseph, and Soca artist Erphaan Alves.
Action at the Hasely Crawford Stadium will get going from 9 am this morning while at the National Aquatic Centre, Couva swimming also splashes off from 9 am.
Saturday’s schedule
Morning session
Boys U-20 Dec (100m, long jump, shot put)
Boys U-17 Octathlon (100m, long jump)
Girls U-17/Boys U-17/Girls U-20/Boys U-20 400m (semfinal)
Girls U-17/Boys U-17/Girls U-20/Boys U-20 100m (semfinal)
Girls U-17 High jump (final)
Girls U-17 Javelin (final)
Girls U-20 Shot put (final)
Girls U-20 Javelin (final)
Aftenoon session
Boys U-17 Triple jump (final)
Boys U-20 Discus (final)
Boys 20 Decathlon (high jump, 400m)
Boys U-17 Octathlon (shot put, 400m)
Girls U-17/Boys U-17/Girls U-20/Boys U-20 400m (final)
Girls U-17/Boys U-17/Girls U-20/Boys U-20 1500m (final)
Girls Open Pole vault (final)
Girls U-20 Triple jump (final)
Special Olympics Boys & Girls 100m (final)
Girls U-17/Boys U-17-Girls U-20/Boys U-20 100m (final)
