[UPDATED] Commonwealth Games Federation praises organisers: Well done, Trinidad and Tobago

THE Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) says it is pleased with Trinidad and Tobago's "absolutely amazing" organisation and preparation for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. It says the work put in by TT sends a strong message to the rest of the Caribbean that countries in this region are capable of hosting such a major event. This comes just after Sport Minister Shamfa Cudjoe said the federation had been expressing its concern and disappointment in the late delivery of some of the facilities to be used.

The games will begin on Friday and end on August 11, featuring over 1,000 athletes from 70 countries. It was previously 71 countries but Maldives withdrew owing to financial constraints.

It is the first time a Caribbean country will host this meet and the first time it is being held in a twin-island country.

In 2018, the TT Olympic Committee submitted its bid to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games, which it won. However, owing to the covid19 pandemic, the games were postponed indefinitely and it was finally decided it would be held this year.

The sports include athletics/para-athletics, cycling, swimming, triathlon, rugby sevens, beach volleyball and fast five netball.

Venues are spread across both islands – the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre, the National Cycling Velodrome, the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, Black Rock and the Buccoo Beach Facility.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday morning, CFG president Dame Louise Martin said she felt "thrilled" to be back in TT. She thanked the games' organising committee, staff and volunteers "for all the hard work you've done to get the games here.

"I've been here a few times, and every time I come, more progress, more progress...This is getting very exciting for us.

"It will be an inspiring festival for the youth of the whole of the Commonwealth, and it will also showcase the best in sport."

She said the games are an opportunity for nations and cities to "enjoy a social, cultural, tourism and other legacy benefits of hosting a major international sporting event.

CGF CEO Katie Sadleir echoed these sentiments and said the TT edition of the meet has "a lot of firsts" and is very exciting.

"It's the first time that the games have been held in the Caribbean, it is the first time that we've got sport programmes integrated into the games, it's the first time that we've got a twin-island model, which has amazing opportunities and challenges, but we're all working through them, and it's the first time that the Fast Five Netball has been in an event..."

She said she has been hearing "really strongly" from Commonwealth members how important it is to reach all regions.

Asked if the federation will now urge other Caribbean countries to bid for future games, she said, "Absolutely!

"I think what's happened in TT (is that) they've let all their Caribbean neighbours (know) how it can be done.

"It's going to be a great success and I know they've had support from some of the neighbours, but it's really given the neighbours an opportunity to say, 'Hey, we can do this too!'"

She said there have been workshops on anti-doping, safe sports, and social media use, among other things.

"They get an opportunity to spend some time doing a little bit of professional development but also networking with their peers."

Olympic Committee president Diane Henderson thanked the government and the Sport Ministry, "because without them, we would not have had the opportunity to do this at all."

She also praised the previous Olympic Committee executive for its bid which led to this coming to fruition.

As for the venues, she said, "We know that they're all ready, and they're getting ready. They're not putting things out, but they're ready. And, yeah, how exciting is it that the athletes are here, right? Great.

FORGET THE HICCUPS

All venues for the games were supposed to be ready by the end of June to allow practice/test matches to be held throughout July. However, this was not the case as the readiness of venues were plagued by delays.

Cudjoe had previously said that all venues for the games were to be confirmed and final by October 2022.

But in November, Cabinet opted for a venue change, switching athletics from the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Tobago to the Hasely Crawford Stadium. In addition, beach volleyball was initially set to be held at Pigeon Point Beach, Tobago but in April, the THA opted for a facility at Black Rock.

The beach volleyball facility was only officially declared ready on Thursday – one day before the games.

The THA credited the delay to a late shipment of a special grade of sand from Guyana, which arrived last Sunday.

Cudjoe had said that the THA prematurely called a press conference to announce a change in venue when no such change had been finalised with her or the federation. She told Newsday people can’t “just wake up one day an announcement," and added that the CGF learnt of the change through local news. She said the CGF also wrote to her to express their displeasure with this, as well as the continued delays, and told Newsday she felt the incident diminished its confidence in TT as hosts.

THA officials have since dismissed Cudjoe's comments, calling it an effort to discredit the work of officials there.

Asked by Newsday about this at the press conference, Martin said: As far as I'm concerned, we're here, we're ready to go.

"It's been tight but we have our A-game."

Sadleir added that she has been paying attention to TT's progress over the last two months and, "It's fantastic.

"I've seen videos almost every day.

"It's taken some time to get there but its a fantastic legacy facility."

She said it paves the way for many international competitions to be held there and a boost in sport tourism.

Henderson noted that in everything, there will be challenges. But what matters, she said, "is how you deal with the challenges and keep a positive mind.

"All our venues are ready and we will be having beach volleyball in the new legacy venue in Tobago."

The officials said most of the international athletes have already arrived in TT and are training.

Sadleir reiterated that she is pleased with all facilities and said it was a "huge commitment" from the government.

Martin added, "I wish every single athlete all the best for the competition, as long as they enjoy it, and all we can ask for. And it's set to be a truly inspiring and spectacular event. So, if you'd like, everybody, enjoy the Commonwealth Youth Games."

Editor's Note: This is an update to an earlier story posted online at newsday.co.tt

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) says it is pleased with Trinidad and Tobago's "absolutely amazing" organisation and preparation for the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games. It says the work put in by TT sends a strong message to the rest of the Caribbean that countries in this region are capable of hosting such a major event.

The games will begin on Friday and end on August 11, featuring over 1,000 athletes from 70 countries.

It is the first time a Caribbean country will host this meet and the first time it is being held in a twin-island country.

The sports include athletics/para-athletics, cycling, swimming, triathlon, rugby sevens, beach volleyball and fast five netball.

Venues are spread across both islands – the Hasely Crawford Stadium, the National Aquatic Centre, the National Cycling Velodrome, the Shaw Park Cultural Complex, Black Rock and the Buccoo Beach Facility.

Speaking at a press conference at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Thursday morning, CFG president Dame Louise Martin said she felt "thrilled" to be back in TT and thanked the organising committee, staff and volunteers.

"I've been here a few times, and every time I come, more progress, more progress...This is getting very exciting for us.

"It will be an inspiring festival for the youth of the whole of the Commonwealth, and it will also showcase the best in sport."

She said the games are an opportunity for nations and cities to "enjoy a social, cultural, tourism and other legacy benefits of hosting a major international sporting event.

CGF CEO Katie Sadleir said the TT edition of the meet has "a lot of firsts" and is very exciting.

"I've heard really strongly from our members around the Commonwealth how important it is to get to all the regions of the Commonwealth," she added.

"I think what's happened in TT (is that) they've let all their Caribbean neighbours (know) how it can be done.

"It's going to be a great success and I know they've had support from some of the neighbours, but it's really given the neighbours an opportunity to say, 'Hey, we can do this too!'"