Let me congratulate all involved in the effort to create excellence in the area of sport, personal and human development, through the vehicle of the Olympics journey.
Speaking from intimate knowledge of the requirements of local systems and processes to attain international standards and maintain the momentum to produce the desired results, I give kudos to the head of our local "IOC" to boldly proclaim that goal.
This is not the norm in T&T and it is apparent that the country has not got it as yet and the specific roles that all entities are expected to play. The general consensus and/or expectation is that the work that has to be done to achieve excellence is to be done by you as the individual, the IOC, the sportsmen and women and of course the Government.
It takes everyone fully committed for a strategic length of time, supporting unconditionally as we get to the various milestones and also understanding the various cycles that are inherent with sports in tandem with vision, belief, money and talent.
The journey is never a straight line and it is not for the faint-hearted or the old talkers, including those in the media. In doing this we would have put in place the infrastructure, the professionals, the markers and the strategic thinkers, all home-grown as Jamaica has demonstrated. No one can take you to greatness like your own people (motivation).
I also wish to commend Shaka Hislop and Dr Ian Hypolite, world-class professionals in sport, who have gone beyond the boundaries of just being athletes and coaches. One can learn from the distinctively Caribbean authority, representing on an international medium, gained through research, general interest, facts, diction, personality and credibility, not only about T&T but regionally and internationally.
A few notes can also be taken from the host country Brasil who can be credited with hosting an overall successful Olympics while having a health emergency, political crisis and a financial crisis all at the same time. That speaks to proper management.
Finally to the athletes–I wish to congratulate everyone including all coaches and back room staff. I feel proud and hopeful whenever I see the Red, White and Black on the world stage. It is a great honour and tribute to become an Olympian (tremendous hard work and personal sacrifice).
The average citizen of T&T has never done anything like that, but as true Trinis we have all the ole talk and we know what and how easy it is to get a medal at the Olympic Games.
Dr Anton Cumberbatch
Pine Ridge Heights, Lopinot