The T&T Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) met the deadline yesterday to submit a financial report to the Sports Company of T&T (SporTT) concerning T&T's participation at the Rio Test Event last month.
Communications Officer at SporTT Natasha Nunez-St Clair, informed the T&T Guardian that a financial report was received yesterday, the deadline given to the TTGF.
The TTGF has been under scrutiny following its handling of national gymnasts Thema Williams and Marisa Dick for the Rio Test Event, a qualifier for the Olympic Games. Williams, who was already in Rio, was removed from the Test event at the last minute and replaced by Dick, who competed and qualified for the Olympic Games.
In a press release on April 22, the SporTT asked the TTGF to submit a detailed financial report by May 3 (yesterday) explaining how funds were used for the Rio Test event. It is understood that officials of SporTT will review the TTGF financial report in the coming days.
The April 22 release stated, "For the Financial Year 2016, $271,805TT has been expended by the Sports Company on the activities of the TTGF all of which have been focused on preparation and tournaments of the two elite level athletes (Thema Williams and Marisa Dick) under the purview of the Federation. This includes $93, 195.28 for Thema Williams and Marisa Dick and their technical teams to attend the World Gymnastics Championship in Glasgow, Scotland, where T&T's spot was secured for the recently concluded Olympic test event in Rio.
The release added: "$58, 196.76 was spent for gymnast Thema Williams, her coach John Geddert and massage therapist Nicole Fuentes to participate in the Olympic Test Event in Rio. No funds were disbursed from the Sports Company for Marisa Dick or Ricardo Lue Shue (Dick's coach) to attend the Olympic Test Event. SporTT has a responsibility to account for state funds and therefore the company has written to the president of the TTGF, David Marquez reminding him that in keeping with SporTT's NGB funding policy a comprehensive report on T&T's participation at the Rio Test Event must be submitted by the Federation to the company within fifteen days of the event's (Rio Test event) conclusion.
The Federation therefore has a deadline to present a full and detailed official account of all events that transpired in relation to this Olympic test event that has now become matter of national interest."