media_artricles :: 2016

Southern Games reduced to one day

DUE TO the recent economic downturn, the 52nd hosting of Southern Games has been reduced from its usual two days of sporting action, to one.

On March 13, several of this nation's top track and field athletes and cyclists will converge at Guaracara Park, Pointe-a-Pierre, for the annual event which has been forced to change its format for the 2016 edition. A total of 65 events have been scheduled to run/ride off over the one-day duration which will still feature participation by multiple international athletes.

As is customary, the Marabella Criterium on March 11 officiates the start of this year's Southern Games. The circuit race, which comprises of several distance and age divisions, pedals off in front of Awardy's Hardware on the Southern Main Road from 7 pm.

According to committee member and cycling event organiser, Anthony Commissiong, riders from as far as Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United States, Switzerland, England and Jamaica will be present to race along the road circuit. They will also take part in grass track racing two days later. This year's Marabella Criterium has been funded by the event's newest sponsor, TECU Credit Union.

For the track and field events, several of TT 's Carifta athletes are also expected to come out and vie for honours. However, financial restrictions have limited international participation in this sporting discipline. Foreign athletes have only been catered to contest the 5,000-metre event.

Visiting athletes hail from Kenya, USA, Cuba, Venezuela and Jamaica. Also, veteran and masters' races have been omitted.

At the launch on Thursday, member of the Southern Games executive – Kenneth Allum (Games chairman), Jimkin Clarke, Commissiong, Haroon Awardy and Mitra Attai (TECU) – called on members of the public and the national business community to financially assist this year's initiative.

"We need help and support from anyone," stated Clarke in his address. "We are accepting contributions up until the day before the event (March 12) because we need help to offset several costs. Because of the current economic situation, sponsors have been hard to come by and we understand they feel hard pressed. However, we are grateful to Petrotrin and TECU and all of our other sponsors thus far for the support provided." Clarke also highlighted that Trinidad and Tobago's only two Olympic gold medallists – Hasely Crawford and Keshorn Walcott – both participated and are products of the Southern Games history. He urged athletes and sponsors alike, to come out and compete/support the development of our nation's future athletes.

"We have cut some events due to the one-day programme," he added.

"However, this year our main focus has been placed on the youth and younger athletes coming up the ranks. It is essential for our young people to compete and to maintain our mature loyal supporters that have stuck it out through the years." Heats for Southern Games sprints off tomorrow from 9 am.

Admission is free.

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