Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago (SOTT) National Director Ferdinand Bibby, has welcomed the news that special athletes are in line to be added to the national sports policy’s athletes incentive programme.
It comes on the heels of SOTT’s highest ever medal haul at a Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which ended with 57 medals, including 19 gold, 15 silver and 23 bronze medals. It's a vast improvement from the 2015 World Games when SOTT brought home 48 medals, including 15 gold, nine silver, and 24 bronze. T&T first competed at these games in 1983, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Shamfa Cudjoe, on Friday evening as she welcomed home the 44-member contingent at the Piarco International Airport. Cudjoe said, “We have right now made a case to the Cabinet, which I'm sure will be approved to offer a small contribution and make the Special Olympics a path and/or policy for rewards and incentives for athletes.”
Speaking to the Guardian Media Sports yesterday, Bibby was encouraged by the news. He said, “Any policy that deals with special people on an equal footing as everyone else would be welcomed by SOTT.”
Bibby went further in explaining the sacrifices special athletes make to represent the country. He went on, “We see our athletes as having the same issues as it relates to preparation to participate at international games. They would expend the same amount of energy and determination to participate at their level because to them their competition is just as important and performing at their best is just as important as any other athlete.”
He also believes the country’s success in the 2019 World Games will go a long way in inspiring other special people around the country to get involved in sporting activities, and there are places they can reach in sports. However, he praised the work of SOTT, and said it went beyond the playing field. “We use sport as a vehicle to build their confidence and to build their self-motivation. It empowers them to be part of society, so while we do sport, we do more than sport,” Bibby said.
2019 SOTT World Games Medals
57 Medals
Gold: 19
Silver: 15
Bronze: 23