T&T Olympic Committee Junior Sportsman and Junior Sportswoman of the Year Christian Homer and Cherelle Thompson were among a field of ten young athletes shortlisted as the top nominees for the First Citizen Sports Foundation's annual youth awards during a function at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Wrightson Road on Friday night. The athletes were selected from an original group of 34 nominees put forward by their respective national sporting organisations for the two awards (Junior Sportsman and Junior Sportswoman of the Year.) The winners will be announced along with the seniors at the Foundation's Annual Award Ceremony at the National Academy for the Performing Arts on Wednesday night. Also making the cut were Channon Thomspon (Volleyball), Denise Francis (Cycling), Quincy Alexander (Cycling), Amelia Corbie (Taekwondo), Kernesha Spann (Athletics), Quinn Cabralis (Chess), Cadell Lyons (Swimming) and Brandon Legall (Volleyball).
In her feature address, Foundation committee member Maria Nunes encouraged the athletes to be conscious of more than just winning and losing. "The most important aspects of participation in sport are the life skills that you are learning as a result. Yes, your victories are tremendous and are to be celebrated and we hope that you enjoy many, many more, but success can be a funny thing; here today, elusive tomorrow. "So if you fall into the trap of becoming consumed with winning and fame and fortune, you will have missed the wonderful advantage that sport can give you in life as a whole." The former junior world champion in golf also reminded the youngsters that as public figures, they carried the added responsibility of setting a good example for others to follow. "Strive to become a person of substance, of good character, for those are the kind of achievements which will always burn bright, bringing benefit not only to yourself but to your family, to the communities who proudly hold you as their own, to the wider society who need a shining example of solid young people like you who dare to dream and are willing to work very hard to realise those dreams."
OTHER AWARDS
Sportsmanship Essay Competitions
Standard Five: Naila Badri-Maharaj, Israel Daniel, Ashanda Jones, Ajay Maharaj, Mikyle Mohammed
Standard Four: Julian Gomez, Jewelle Spencer, Gabrielle Gianna Johnson, Meera Ramdhanie, Simran Babani
Extra Curricular School Team: Mayaro Secondary II Club
School Development Programme: Mayaro Secondary Specialist School for Physical Education & Sport Programme
Special Olympic Athletes: Ricky Quow, Sergio Williams, Giselle Benjamin, Lenford le Vende, Antonio Sorzano