media_artricles :: 2015

T&T to send four athletes to Samoa Youth Games

T&T is expected to be represent by a small team of only four athletes in the sport of swimming and athletics for the Fifth Commonwealth Youth Games, to be held on the Pacific Island nation of Samoa from September 5-11, 2015.

Four years ago, in the Isle of Man, Hezekiel Romeo, then the national Under-18 shot put champion earned this country’s first ever medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games fourth edition when he had a heave of 17.97 metres to finish behind gold medal winner, India’s Navjetdeep Singh (18.81m) and silver medallist Ruan Combrick of South Africa, who had a best heave of 18.57m.

Three months earlier, the 17-year-old Romeo broke the national (Under-18) record when he threw the iron ball 18.03m at a National Association of Athletics Administration Developmental Meet at Ato Boldon Stadium Couva while he later improved on that record at the Seventh IAAF World Youth Track and Field Championship in Lille, France with a throw of 19.68m in the qualifying round, a national junior record.

But in just 100 days, up to 1000 young Commonwealth athletes aged 14-18, for 107 gold medals in nine sports over five days at the Vth Commonwealth Youth Games, to be held on the Pacific Island nation of Samoa from September 5-11, 2015. The action takes place in the nation’s capital, Apia, across two sporting complexes that will play host to aquatics (swimming), archery, athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rugby sevens, squash, tennis and weightlifting.

Looking ahead to the Games, Jeannette Small, T&T’s Chef de Mission, said: “My role as Chef de Mission, with the support of the National Olympic Committee, will be to organise the teams travel to Samoa. “Upon arrival I will work alongside the team managers and the Organising Committee to ensure the athletes have an enjoyable stay and are able to perform at their best representing the red, white and black proudly.

She added, “I look forward to the learning opportunity of being part of such a glandular event, and the exposure to Samoa's culture and natural beauty.”

The Commonwealth Youth Games are for some—like Kirani James (athletics), Chad le Clos (aquatics) and Jessica Ennis-Hill (athletics)—the springboard to future Commonwealth Games glory; for many, a formative first taste of international multi-sport competition; and for all, a joyous celebration of high-performance sport, personal development and new Commonwealth friendships made on the level playing field of sport.

Like the Commonwealth Games, all athletes stay in athletes’ village-style accommodation and events comply with International Federation technical rules and regulations, giving many competitors their first taste of an international multi-sport environment. World anti-doping standards also apply.

Off the field of play, the Youth Games nurtures the next generation of global sporting citizens by focusing on friendship, integrity and cross-Commonwealth inter-cultural exchange—learning and living the Commonwealth Games Federation’s values of humanity, equality, destiny. The host nation, Samoa, which means Sacred (Sa’) Centre (Moa) of the Universe, is a small, tropical island nation in the Central Pacific with a young population of c187,000, over half of whom are 25 and under.

Chairman of the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games Organising Committee, and Prime Minister of Samoa, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi said:

“Practically our entire small island community from sports associations and athletes, to the public and private sector, to our citizens and communities have all banded together to prepare to welcome and host Commonwealth athletes, officials, dignitaries, supporters and visitors in 100 days time.

Samoa is a Small Island Developing State in the Central Pacific and sport and recreation is a hugely important part of our island life and culture. With this close affinity to and appreciation of sports and its rewards and benefits, our island nation and community stands ready and eager to extend to all athletes and visitors a very warm welcome and to ensure that the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games will not just be the most memorable but a lasting legacy for all.”

Launched in 2000 and now in its fifth edition, the Youth Games are a sustainable opportunity for smaller cities and nations to benefit from hosting a major sporting event, using predominantly pre-existing venues (in Samoa’s case constructed for the 2007 Pacific Games) whilst also promoting an inclusive and positive youth agenda.

With 50 per cent of Commonwealth citizens aged 25 and under, the Youth Games play a vital part in the Commonwealth Games Federation’s vision to inspire Commonwealth athletes to drive the ambition and power of all Commonwealth citizens through sport.

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