WALTER ALIBEY
T&T could soon have its first opportunity at sports tourism from the use of its spanking new, state of the art cycledrome in Balmain, Couva.
Coming on the heels of government's drive to open sporting facilities constructed by the former administration, president of the T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF) Robert Farrier revealed that the Pan American Cycling Confederation (COPACI) is on the search for a country to host the Pan American Junior Track Championship next month, which he sees as a great opportunity for T&T capitalise on.
The event was initially carded to take place in neighbouring Venezuela, but because of the economic crisis being faced there presently, COPACI officials have decided to seek another host country.Farrier, a former cyclist, is confident that staging the event in T&T will provide the country with an opportunity for diversification to take place, through sport tourism.
"We have talked so much about diversifying in other areas from our dependence on oil and gas to sport tourism, now we have the ideal opportunity for it to take place," Farrier explained.
He said his federation has already contacted and explained to the COPACI of its intention to have the championship staged in T&T, but was adamant they must first hold talks with Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith before T&T can oficially offer itself as host.
"A letter of request has already been sent to Minister Smith and we are looking forward to having a meeting with him very soon. Only by that time we will be able to say if we will be staging the event or not," Farrier said.
Only Saturday the sport minister Smith, together with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xingyuan, the MP for Couva South Rudranath Indarsingh, Chairman of the Sport Company Michael Phillips, Olympic medallist George Bovell III, Shanntol Ince and other members of the T&T Waterpolo team, opened the Acquatic Centre in Balmain, Couva.
Smith later gave the assurance that the cycledrome would open this week.
Since its completion last year, the cycledrome, considered the best cycling facility in the Western Hemisphere, has been tested by Olympic-bound rider Njisane Phillip and given a passing grade by the cycling federation. However, no action has been possible until its official opening.
Farrier and his federation are hoping to resopond to the COPACI by the end of the week.They are hoping to propel the sport locally across the globe with the use of the cycledrome, which has been in demand since its completion.
Phillip (Njisane) was among many cyclists hoping to use the facility for preparation for major international events leading up to the Olympics Games. However, they were forced to go abroad to places like Colombia and the United States for training on similar facilities.
Efforts to reach Sport Minister Smith and SporTT chairman Michael Phillips via their cellphones and text messages proved futile.However, a staff member at the Sport Company who wished to remain anonymous, disclosed that the cycledrome will be opened oficially at the end of June.
Both the cycledrome and the acquatic centre will only be opened for use by olympic-bound athletes Bovell and Phillip and other elite athletes, ahead of the Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"There are still staffing and other things to put in place at the venue," the Guardian was told.
Phillip is expected to begin training at the end of this month, while Bovell is expected to have his first workout session this week.