media_artricles :: 2014

Lewis: Relief coming to elite athletes

President of the T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) Brian Lewis said that his top priority is to see that athletes who qualify for funding from the Elite Athletes Assistance Programme (EAAP) get the relief needed.

Lewis, in an interview yesterday said he has heard the plight of the athletes, some of whom appeared on a radio programme recently claiming to have not been provided funding to train and represent the country.

“Right now, we’re seeing that athletes do what is required to meet the criteria for funding. Going forward, there may be a need to make some tweaks in the policy,” Lewis said, adding that team sports and athletes who fall out of the “top 40” criteria also be given consideration to improve on their development.

Lewis said he has spoken to recently appointed Minister of Sport Rupert Griffith as well as representatives of National Sporting Organisations (NSO) and is confident that problems concerning the EAAP will soon be rectified. “I am satisfied with the progress (coming out of those meetings) thus far. The reality is that the EAAP is important and it has served athletes well. I believe the EAAP forms part of a framework in the development of athletes. It works well and the concept is strong.”

A number of national athletes from a variety of disciplines from the cycling, netball and athletics fraternities raised concerns recently regarding a lack of availability of funding to those who consistently serve the country with distinction and questioned the successes of others who receive figures within the highest bracket of allowance despite not achieving success at the highest level.

Lewis, however, was cautious in responding to these claims. “Let me say this: I will discourage athletes from pointing fingers. I am not entertaining fighting and I am not aware of favouritism,” he said.

He added that guidelines must be adhered to and admitted that if athletes go beyond their respective NSOs or the TTOC and apply directly to the Ministry of Sport, then the governing bodies will have no power to help the athletes in rectifying such situations.

Also contacted for comment on the recent claims, president of the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Ephraim Serrette, said he has written to Griffith two weeks ago asking him to meet on the matter, but has not yet been acknowledged. He said, however, that athletes sometimes have unrealistic expectations on the basis of government sourced funding.

“Athletes need to understand that the country does not owe them anything. They can choose to run for the country or not. Jamaican athletes do not get (state) assistance,” he said. Serrette said he sympathises with national 110m hurdles record holder Mikel Thomas, who was evicted out his apartment in the US because of his inability to pay rent, but added that his dependency on the EAAP should not have reached to a level or crisis. He was formerly a recipient of EAAP funding but has not received in over a year.

Serrette also suggested that there was a policy not being adhered to by some athletes, by means of applying through their respective sport governing bodies and the TTOC.

According to the policy available on the Ministry of Sport’s webpage, “athletes ranked in the World Top 15 positions will qualify for the current maximum sum of $250,000. Athletes ranked in the World Top 16-40 positions will benefit up to $187,500 (75 per cent of the maximum sum). Athletes who medal at the specific games and championships will benefit, on a case-by-case basis, from up to $75,000 (30 per cent of the maximum sum). The funding will be provided for athletes who undergo a four-year cycle of preparation and training leading up (to) an Olympic year.”

“The funding is intended to meet the following expenses: training scheduled, coaching fees, nutritional and medical expenses, travel expenses for training, travel expenses for sanctioned competitions and pre-games tours, accommodation for training and professional expenses.”

“The Ministry will disburse grants to successful applicants in accordance with the policy criteria and recommendations of the National Sporting Organisation. Athletes will be required to sign Service Level Agreements which outline their spending responsibilities.”

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