By Darcel Choy Saturday, July 28 2012

The men’s relay team, shot putter Cleopatra Borel-Brown and swimmer George Bovell are the odds-on favourite by locals to bring home gold medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

When Newsday visited Brooklyn Bar at the corner of Robert and Carlos Streets in Woodbrook several patrons expressed confidence in the relay team which includes Richard Thompson, Marc Burns, Keston Bledman and Emmanuel Callender. The reserves are Wayne Davis II and Jamol James.“They were strong in the races that led up to the Olympics and I am confident in them they would bring home the gold, they are great at what they do,” John Richardson said.

His companion, Allison Browne agreed but added she was supporting swimmer, George Bovell.

“I think he is going to really surprise people this year, he did well in Beijing but this year he is coming for them,” he said.

Phillip Persad said he was confident that everyone was going to come back with a gold medal.

“We have to support our own and we have to let them know they are being seriously supported back home so I am saying with confidence that everyone is coming back with a gold medal, we are a talented people and we can achieve everything we put our minds to,” he said. One man, Sean Olton said he was really confident in Borel-Brown because she is really good. “She always performs well at the different competitions so I am very confident that she would bring home the gold for her country in the Olympics,” he said.

There was not a significant turnout by patrons of bars and restaurants to view the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games but those who turned out said they were impressed by the presentation.

One woman who gave her name as Lydia said she thoroughly enjoyed it.

“It was really a great presentation, I loved how everyone was dressed and the singing and the music, it was really well put together,” she said.

She said she was a bit upset that those operating the bar changed the channel to cricket, in which West Indies were playing New Zealand in a Test match.

“We were watching the opening ceremony expecting to see when Trinidad and Tobago crossed and they changed the channel so we are a bit disappointed by that,” she said. Asked about her favourite athlete she said the entire team was her favourite and she hoped that someone will bring home the gold.