The T&T Volleyball Federation (TTVF) after meetings with all stakeholders have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Finals of the Tokyo Olympics Beach Volleyball Qualification process.
This was stated in a media released signed by T&TVF President Daymian Stewart on Tuesday,
In the address Stewart noted that the local governing body for Volleyball and Beach Volleyball is saddened by the decision made but it was unavoidable.
The qualifier is carded for June 21 to 28 in Colima Mexico and is expected to involve Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, US Virgin Islands, St Kitts & Nevis, and St. Lucia.
Only the tournament’s winner will advance; from the single-elimination event, to the Tokyo Games tentatively set for July.
According to the T&TVF release key to the decision to opt out of the qualifiers was because a number of the country’s key athletes are not prepared to be vaccinated at this point, and the association does respect the views of its athletes. However, examining all the necessary logistics and the cost associated with the safety of the athletes, their preparation, their traveling, the tournament, quarantining, etc. led to the withdrawal.
In April, the national Beach Volleyball Commonwealth Games duos of Daneil Williams and Daynte Stewart as well as Rheeza Grant and Abby Blackman were selected among two national men and women teams each to continue preparations for the NORCECA Continental Olympic Beach Volleyball Qualifiers.
Back then Stewart, also the father of USA-based Stewart (D) of Indiana Tech Institute stated: “The T&TVF was very cautious in the preparation of its national beach volleyball teams for the upcoming Olympic Qualification semifinals and finals to be held in Mexico in June due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Nevertheless, the TTVF named its top four athletes in each gender that will be eligible for Olympic qualifications and reserves:
Williams and Stewart were joined by NORCECA Tour regular and their former playing partners, Marlon Phillip and Joel Theodore while ex-top national beach player Fabien Whitfield, who has completed an FIVB suspension was named among the reserves with Stephen Enile, Tevin Edwards, and Kareem Thomas.
It was expected to be Williams, second straight Olympic qualification bid after he teamed up with Simon Blake, Christian Francois and Colin Bernard for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in Brazil, reaching the NORCECA Continental stage as well in Guaymas, Mexico.
The women’s team comprised Grant and Blackman as well as La Teisha Joseph and Malika Davidson, all experienced participants on the NORCECA Circuit.
The quartet of reserves is led by Suraya Chase, and Apphia Glasgow, both NORCECA Circuit players as well, and juniors Tsyan Selvon, and Asma Charles.
At the last Olympic Qualifiers in 2016, the trio of Grant, Davidson and Blackman were joined by the now-deceased Ayanna Dyette for a sixth-placed finish among eight finalists in San Salvador, El Salvador .
But with the T&VF now opting out of the Tokyo qualifiers, the TTVF now looks towards the future; which includes the installation of a robust system that would assist this country to qualify its first team sport to an Olympic Games, Paris 2024.
Those plans includes:
· The operationalizing of five development centers for Beach Volleyball based in the North, East, South, Central, and Tobago.
· Formation of a Commercially sustainable Trinidad and Tobago Beach Volleyball Tour.
· Refurbishing of the National Beach Volleyball Center at Saith Park Chaguanas.
· Building Capacity in our Local Human Resource – Coaching, Officiating and Sport administration.
· Ensuring that the job for a Coach can move from a part-time, volunteer or recreational activity to a full-time occupation.