$40.6m velodrome catalyst to revitalise sports in South

THE new $40.6 million Palo Seco Velodrome is being seen as the catalyst to revitalise and even resurrect active sporting competitions in South Trinidad.

In making the prediction, Sports and Community Development Minister Shamfa Cudjoe anticipated it would mark the return of the heyday of the glorious southern games which provide the platform for the international rise of athletes including Olympic gold medalist Hasely Crawford, Gene “Geronimo” Samuel, Hylton “Bingo” Mitchell, Emile Abraham, Quincy Alexander and others.

On Friday, the Prime Minister turned the sod for the start of construction of the Velodrome which he admitted had fallen by the wayside after the restructuring of Petrotrin.

He said had it not been for the restructuring they would not be in Palo Seco engaged in a sod turning exercise for a new facility which should be completed in 18 months.

He said the good fortunes of Heritage Petroleum Company, one of the subsidiaries of the restructured Petrotrin, had made it possible for Government to create another platform for talented athletes to hone and develop their skills.

Heritage chairman Michael Quamina said the company Heritage has not only handed over of the facility to UDECOTT, but it has also contributed $26 million to help fund the refurbishment.

“The training, development, and competitions expected to take place at this multi-purpose velodrome can make a real difference to our youth, as sport teaches the value of teamwork, discipline and perseverance so desperately needed today,” Quamina said.

He said there will be opportunities for athletes, coaches, and sport administrators as well as the opportunity for small microenterprises.

Quamina said what Heritage is offering with the velodrome is an opportunity to dream, grow and achieve and he was excited to see the velodrome regain its standing as the premier sporting facility in South Trinidad.

Cudjoe dismissed views that this refurbishment was an isolated event taking place because of local government election, identifying facilities which have been completely refurbished across the country

“None of this has occurred by accident or happenstance, the successes are occurring based on our deliberate policy positions as a government to support and encourage our high performance athletes, to fund training and overseas participation of our national team and to provide our athletes with the requisite sporting facilities to fuel their continued excellence, and in this regard the refurbishment of this Palo Seco velodrome is consistent with that thrust.”

The velodrome will provide a new spectator pavilion that will be able to seat 1,000 patrons, plus an athlete pavilion with 500 seats.

La Brea MP Stephen Mc Clashie in whose constituency the facility is located said he was peeved by the underutilization of so many sporting facilities.

He appealed to users to take pride in the facilities provided, pointing to the theft of lights, basketball ring, posts with floodlights from a basketball court in La Brea.