$3.6m to book hotel rooms for Commonwealth Youth Games

TOBAGO remains firmly in the mix to benefit from this country hosting the 7th Commonwealth Youth Games, as hotels on the island have been identified as part of the overall list of hotels Government is spending $3.6 million on to book rooms for the athletes and their entourages.

The country hosts the games from August 4-11.

A press release from the Ministry of Sport and Community Development on Monday, confirmed that  Government had given a cheque for $3.6 million to book hotel rooms.

“The hosting of these games will further position Trinidad and Tobago as a hub for sports tourism, providing a platform for Caribbean athletes to showcase their skills and will bring economic benefit to this country,” said Tobago West MP and Sport and Community Development Minister Shamfa Cudjoe.

The release said, “The government is pleased to support the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association through the disbursement of $3.6 million  towards down payment to secure 5,000 hotel room nights across six hotels in TT.

“These hotels include the Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Radisson, Cara Hotels, Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort, Mt Irvine Bay Resort and Comfort Inn and Suites. We are delighted to partner with the sporting fraternity and support the economy through sport.”

The Commonwealth Youth Games will feature seven sports: swimming, athletics, cycling, netball, rugby, triathlon, and beach volleyball for athletes between 14 and 18.

The handover ceremony for the cheque took place on Friday at the ministry.

This country was announced as the host at the Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) General Assembly in Birmingham, England last year.

According to a release on the Commonwealth Games Federation’s (CGF) website, the decision came after TT was initially awarded the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games in June 2019, but that event was postponed owing to the impact of the pandemic on the international sport calendar.

After that postponement, the CGF reviewed the best alternative options and time frames for staging the event in the future.

The CGF then entered close dialogue with the TT Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) and the Government before an agreement was signed at the CGF General Assembly.

After the signing, CGF president Dame Louise Martin, DBE, said: “We are absolutely delighted that TT will be hosting the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games.

“It was heart-breaking for us when we needed to postpone the 2021 event due to the pandemic. However, we never gave up on our commitment of bringing the event to TT.”

She continued, “It will be an amazing event in the twin-island country that will showcase the very best of the Caribbean and Commonwealth sport.”

Dame Louise later thanked the TT Commonwealth Games Association and the Government for their support for their support. “I know the young athletes of the Commonwealth will be so excited to have the opportunity to compete in the Caribbean next year,” she said.

TT Commonwealth Games Association president Diane Henderson and Minister Cudjoe were at the CGF’s general assembly, representing this country’s interests in staging the games.

Henderson said then, “We are honoured to be hosting the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. It was a difficult moment for everyone when the 2021 edition of the event was postponed so we are absolutely delighted to be hosting the event next year.

“We know it will be a fantastic showcase of sport in the region that young athletes across the Commonwealth will really enjoy.”

The first Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Scotland in 2000, with the event subsequently going to Australia, India, the Isle of Man, Samoa and most recently the Bahamas in 2017.