media_artricles :: 2013

Edwin Roberts moved to tears

Double Olympic bronze medallist Edwin Roberts was moved to tears at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday.

Roberts, a USA Track and Field (USATF) Certified Masters Official, was a guest lecturer on the first two days of the Start Line Seminar for technical officials. During the day two programme, yesterday, he was presented with a plaque in honour of his sterling contribution to Trinidad and Tobago athletics.

"It's the first time I was ever moved to tears on receiving an award," Roberts told the Express. "It was very emotional. Working with the people on the course for two days, I drew close to them, so it was kind of emotional for me."

At the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Roberts bagged bronze in the men's 200 metres. He also teamed up with Edwin Skinner, Kent Bernard and Wendell Mottley for bronze in the 4x400m relay. On Sunday, at the T&T Relay Carnival, Skinner, Bernard, Roberts and Mottley were honoured with commemorative plaques.

Roberts, who lives in Pennsylvania, stayed on in Trinidad for the first two days of the Start Line Seminar. The seminar, which is being staged by the Ministry of Sport and the National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) and facilitated by International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) starter Lisa Ferdinand, concludes tomorrow.

Coordinator Paul Voisin told the Express he was surprised by the turnout.

"The first day attendance was 45, and we had to turn back some. More than 60 actually showed up. There will be another course for those who were not accepted this time."

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