media_artricles :: 2016

Para-athletes to get ‘elite’ funding

Minister of Sport Darryl Smith on Tuesday promised to make the Elite Athlete Assistance programme (EAAP) accessible to para- athletes for the first time ever.

Currently, elite athletes are given financial aid of $250,000 if they are ranked in the top 10 in the world in their discipline. Those ranked from 11th-40th will benefit up to $187,500.

Speaking at the VIP Lounge of the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on the return of double Paralympic medallist Akeem Stewart (gold and silver), Nyoshia Cain (bronze) and Shanntol Ince from Brazil, Smith, who has been in office for just over a year, described the current policy as "one of the weirdest things that I've seen".

He explained, "these athletes here aren't given the opportunity of being elite athletes. It was mind-blowing for me from day one. It was the past, it is what it is from the past and it's something we're going to ensure that is put in for these athletes that they could get the proper funding equal to everybody in Trinidad and Tobago." Smith said there will be sweeping changes in the sport policy with the first step being taken next week with a stakeholder review meeting at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua on Wednesday to analyse Rio 2016, plan for Tokyo 2020 and formulate an athlete reward policy.

"After we do that review, we'll hear everybody's views, ventilate it and come back to the public to ensure everybody is on the same page.

It's a 'we' concept moving forward rather than the ivory tower approach which sadly we've got accustomed to in the past. It's not the Minister of Sport, it's not the Chairman (of the Sport Company), it's not the TTO C (Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee) plan, it's Trinidad and Tobago's plan and we want everybody to have a say so we can move forward positively." Many in the public have been wondering what the Government will do to honour Stewart and Cain and Smith said all the speculation will soon cease.

"It's really sad that after all this time, this country doesn't have a set policy when it comes to rewarding.

Next week Wednesday we're going to have a review of our Olympics, after that discussion will be rewarding (discussed). Based on that, we're going to get a report and the sporting policy and youth policy of the country will be revamped and be part of us moving forward.

All athletes gonna know in black and white (what rewards they're entitled to). The days of politicking and force feeding gifts to athletes without discussion just to get political gain, those days are done," he declared.

Sudhair Ramessar, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Paralympic Committee, hailed the TT trio at the Games and beleieves "it is a golden opportunity for us now to realise that disabled people in Trinidad and Tobago have a future (in) sport and in life. This is one opportunity now we should embrace the concept of full inclusion!" He argued that there are many disabled children out there that TT have not tapped into.

"Trinidad and Tobago have these athletes here and I consider them unmined diamonds and we need to unearth these diamond, polish them and take them forward. Because sport is a true way of bringing independence to these athletes and disabled community," he noted.

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