Legendary West Indies fast bowler Curtly Ambrose, fresh from the ICC World Cup, will deliver the key note address 'Think Big, Start Small', at this year's Secondary Schools Leadership symposium, which starts today at the Ballroom of the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, St Ann's, at 9.15 am.
The event will be officially opened by Minister of Sport, Brent Sancho, and more than 300 students from secondary schools throughout the country will be exposed to messages, motivational speeches and dialogue with the region's sporting heroes and icons.
The event, which is in its 16th year, is being hosted by The Sports Desk, and has received support from a number of organisations, including the Sports Company.
Three-time Sportswoman of the year, Cleopatra Borell, is among six women who will take the platform over the four days. The students will also hear from West Indies women's cricket captain Merisa Aguilliera and national women's hockey captain Patricia Alexis, as well as Dr Tonya Welch, Miss World 1986 Giselle West and inspirational speaker Patricia Gajadhar.
Former West Indian opener Philo Wallace, and former national cricket captain Daren Ganga will also be among the speakers, as will motivational speaker Don La Foucade.
Among the companies associated with the symposium are: NGC, the Neal and Massy Foundation, Scotiabank, Toyota, TsTT, The Fan Club, McAl, Civil Aviation, Stephenson's, Coca Cola, First Citizens, Flavorite and the PTSC.
About The Sports Desk & Symposium
The Sports Desk is a non-profit organisation. It is the brainchild of Valentino Singh who is the Sport Editor at The Trinidad Guardian. He felt he could improve the lives of young people and journalists through his association with those in the field of sport. The symposium started with about 40 journalists, sport administrators and students in a room at the Trinidad Guardian office at St Vincent Street around 2004. Today, it has grown into one of the most eagerly anticipated events among secondary school students. Its latest achievement is the formation of The Sports Desk Youth Committee which is already making its mark through charitable projects.
The yearly secondary schools leadership symposium takes place for four days at The Cascadia Hotel, St Ann's where close to 400 students get to interact, listen, seek autographs and most importantly, learn life lessons from some of the top icons in sport and other leading personalities in our country. Each year, more than 500 students register but only about 400 are accepted.
Also, at least 50 students from remote areas such as Cedros, Palo Seco, Rio Claro, Sangre Grande, Manzanilla and Vessigny and Tobago are handpicked by their school principals to represent their schools. These students have the opportunity to spend the four days at the hotel where they develop their leadership skills and build their self-confidence. Many of them also get a first time MovieTowne experience and visit places around the city of Port-of-Spain.
Among the speakers who have been involved in our programme over the years are:
�2 Former WI and international cricket legend Courtney Walsh
�2 Olympic World track medalist Ato Boldon
�2 Cricket legend Brian Charles Lara
�2 ESPN analyst and World Cup football star
Shaka Hislop
�2 Olympic swimming icon George Bovell III
�2 National ambassador and former cricket captain Daren Ganga
�2 Miss World 1986 Giselle La Ronde West
�2 Miss Universe 1998 Wendy Fitzwilliam
�2 Boxing champion Ria Ramnarine
�2 Attorney Veera Bhajan
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