T&T will host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games from August 1-7 after being selected as the host to replace Belfast during an announcement in Birmingham, England, yesterday.
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) executive board voted for T&T to host the Games' seventh edition following an impressive presentation which was led by T&T Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA) president Brian Lewis.
A new host had to be selected following last year's decision by the CGF to strip the original hosts Belfast of the event because of the political deadlock in Northern Ireland.
The first Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Scotland in 2000, with the event subsequently going to Australia, India, Isle of Man, Samoa and most recently the Bahamas in 2017.
"We are delighted to award T&T the opportunity to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games," CGF president Dame Louise Martin said.
"We had a very strong bid process and the board felt at this point in time the Caribbean offers a fantastic platform for the Commonwealth Sports Movement to build upon.
"We look forward to working closely with T&T in the lead up to the Games in what we are confident will be a fantastic event for the aspiring young athletes of the Commonwealth."
She added, "Finally, the board would like to thank Gibraltar once again for submitting their bid to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. We will now work with the Gibraltar CGA (Commonwealth Games Association) to identify opportunities to host future Commonwealth events."
Lewis, also president of the T&T Olympic Committee (T&TOC), was overwhelmed by the news and said, "On behalf of the youth and young people of T&T, thank you to the Commonwealth Games Federation. It's an honour to be entrusted with the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.
"I would like to acknowledge and compliment Rheeza Grant, Kwanieze John and Chanelle Young; the three young women who conceptualised, developed and envisioned the T&T 2021 bid."
He added, "It's a proud and great moment for T&T.
Asked if he was surprised that T&T got the nod ahead of Gibraltar, Lewis replied, "To be honest with you, it was a very tough battle. Gibraltar was considered the safe pair of hands and considered a bit of the favourite coming into it. So that in the final when we had to prepare for the final presentation, which was held on Thursday in Birmingham, England, we had to present to the Commonwealth Games Federation executive board, we knew we were coming from behind."
With regards to this country's confidence in putting on a high quality event, Lewis said: "We have had the tremendous support of the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Shamfa Cudjoe and the Government of T&T, because one of the critical elements was that we had to produce a government guarantee and that was done. The cabinet of T&T approved and supported it, so that was important."
He added, "T&T joined the Commonwealth in 1962 and it will be the first time that T&T will be hosting international multisport games and I think it has the opportunity to be an awesome and tremendous boost to our sports industry and sports tourism initiative."