Sport Minister presents $450k to elite athletes

AS athletes all across the world get ready to participate in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, three national athletes received financial support to aid in their preparation – First Citizens Sportsman of the Year Dylan Carter (swimming), former sportsman of the year Jereem Richards (track and field) and Nigel Paul (boxer).

Shamfa Cudjoe, Minister of Sport and Community Development, recently presented cheques to the three athletes, totalling $450,000, at the ministry at Nicholas Towers, Port of Spain.

All three applied and received the grants under the Elite Athlete Programme, which provides financial support to eligible high-performing and world-ranked athletes to support their development, training and participation in high-performance sport.

Speaking at the ceremony, Cudjoe encouraged all athletes to avail themselves of the various assistance mechanisms offered by the ministry and its implementation agency, SporTT (Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago). She said the ministry has reviewed and improved the grants application process to enhance the service and support offered to TT athletes and the sporting fraternity.

Cudjoe also said that “despite difficult economic times due to the global impact of the covid19 pandemic, the Government continues to invest in sport and support our athletes.”

She reminded those present that the Reward and Incentive Programme is still in place to provide even further financial support when athletes medal at the Tokyo Games.

Cudjoe also announced that the ministry would provide over $2 million in funding to the TTOC (TT Olympic Committee) to support its work in preparation for the Olympics.

This is the second such distribution for 2021, with just under $800,000 presented to 13 athletes and sporting organisations in February.