media_artricles :: 2016

Pre-Olympic camp for TT athletes in Brazil

The TT team's chef de mission Dr Ian Hypolite, who is also an executive member of the TTO C, made this disclosure during a media conference yesterday morning at the TTO C office, Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.

The media conference served to acknowledge the occasion of 100 days to go before the start of the Olympic Games.

Hypolite said, "in February (the TTO C) made a conference trip to Brazil and we looked at possibly setting up in Recife. We found that there were generally good infrastructure but we had a little difficulty with the track.

"Of course, with track and field being our flagship, we felt that we needed to get it right," Hypolite continued.

"So we continued our search to Sao Paulo and we have identified a few locations in Sao Paulo." Hypolite, who is a coach of Memphis Pioneers Athletic Club, mentioned, "the secretary- general (of the TTO C Annette Knott) is going to travel to Brazil next week. She is working closely with our associates.

"Our needs are fairly clear by now and therefore our secretary-general will be going down to Brazil to inspect the facilities and give the thumbs up, or thumbs down, as the case may be." With regards to the cost of the camp, Hypolite mentioned, "we are still essentially looking for money to finance mainly the travel to the camp. We suspect that may cost somewhere over $1.2 million. If we get that, then we'll be ready to go." Knott, reflecting on the previous Games in London, England, stated, "in 2012 I was the chef de mission for the London Games and we were in Wales for 10 days before the Games.

"And that camp, we think, made a lot of difference to the whole atmosphere when we got into the Village. We were really a strong team. So what we look for is really good accommodation, the type of facility where we can stay and bond together.

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