It's cold in Lima, Peru, the host city of the 18th Pan Am Games. In fact, it's winter here in the South American nation despite the organisers' best efforts to have the games in the July/August window that is the best option for any multi-sport event that hopes to attract the best track and field athletes from the Pan American region.
The Pan Am Games is a major event on the calendar and it is always well supported by the 41 Pan Am Sport Organisation member countries. But if one is to be honest, the USA as an example may not send their absolute best track and field athletes. But for sure, with the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, from September 28 to October 6, makes the Pan Am Games for many a must attend as part of their preparation for the global challenge that awaits them.
For a number of other sports, the Pan Am Games is a significant event. Increasingly, the Pan Am Sport Organisation is doing a good job getting recognition as an Olympic qualifier.
For countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, the Pan Am Games are a serious landmark and stepping stone in the Olympic cycle.
It provides an excellent opportunity to assess where we are at. One of the huge challenges when you set a big goal such as 10 Olympic gold medals by 2024, is that signposts such as Pan Am Games can either build confidence or destroy it.
On establishing the goal of 10 or more Olympic medals by 2024 a transparent scoreboard was created. There is no longer any place to hide. How are we going about achieving such a lofty goal? Do we have the resources? Are the systems and policies in place?
Given Trinidad and Tobago's history, why would such an objective be even considered? It just doesn't make any sense.
In setting any goal you have to embrace the truth that it will take a lot of hard work but not just hard work. Hard work alone will not be sufficient.
But even more important than the willingness to work hard is the mindset and the attitude and self-belief. That self-belief is more invaluable than all the sand in the sea.
At times, it seems as if we are happy just going through the motion and at the first sign of trouble we are ready to run and hide or jump ship.
Ten gold medals by the year 2024 is realistic and achievable, not easy by any means, but it's TTO's goal to strive and achieve. The real question to be asked is are we encouraging our youth and young people to strive for greatness. There are too many people in Trinidad and Tobago who seem gleeful any time they have to tell you why you will fail. It's because they don't believe that it can be done. So they enjoy telling you you will fail. It will never happen or can never happen.
I believe it's very important to always fight for what you believe in. I remain steadfast in my belief that there are Olympic champions in Trinidad and Tobago. I believe that it is important to see in our youth and young people the potential that can be fulfilled. I believe that for too long we have encouraged our youth and young people to deny their best self.
If by me being laughed at and criticised, I am able to give our youth and young people who aspire to be an Olympic champion a safe space to dream, then it is well worth it.
Allow our youth and young people the space to dream.
