sep.11.2008
Former two-time world junior sprint champion Darrel Brown will be rewarded in the same manner as his 4x100 metres relay team-mates.
This was confirmed by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gary Hunt and Ephraim Serrette, president of the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA) yesterday.
Hunt said, “Darrel was part of the relay team and he’s getting the same lucrative reward ($500,000 in cash and $250,000 in units from the Unit Trust Corporation) as the other five team members.”
He said Brown could not be here with the rest of the team to celebrate because he just had surgery for his injury in Miami, and that was why no mention was made of his reward by the Prime Minister on Monday.
Serrette also confirmed yesterday that Brown would be given a reward similar to that of his relay team-mates.
During a victory celebration for 100 metres sprint silver medallist Richard Thompson and members of the T&T relay team, Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced that Thompson, a double silver medallist at the Games, would receive $750,000 in cash and Unit Trust shares to the value of $250,000, while his team-mates Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender, Keston Bledman and Aaron Armstrong would each receive $500,000 in cash and $250,000 in units.
Serrette said: “At the time of the announcement by the Prime Minister and at Tuesday’s press conference for the athletes, the focus was only about the five runners who are here.
“While Darrel’s name was not mentioned by the Prime Minister, representation was made for him since he was a member of the team during the qualifying meets and at the Olympics before he got injured,” he added.
Brown, however, along with his five counterparts, received the nation’s second highest award—the Chaconia Medal (Gold) for his contribution. His father Winston Brown received the medal of honour on his behalf.
Hunt said: “Our relay team at Beijing comprised six runners and Brown was one of the six...It was the six athletes that were rewarded, not five.”
The minister also pointed out that all six athletes were part of the Elite Athletes Programme and as such each athlete receives $250,000 annually.
He said: “Since this programme started more than four years ago, Marc Burns, swimmer George Bovell III and Brown have received more than a million dollars each towards their development.”
Brown, 23, who was injured in the semifinals of the 100 metres race in Beijing, had surgery last week at a Miami hospital and is on the road to recovery.
Serrette, a former Olympian himself, said he and the NAAA were hoping for the best, and a 100 per cent recovery for Brown, the reigning World Championship 100 metres silver medallist.
“Darrel is a professional athlete and all the assistance necessary will be afforded him,” Serrette said.
“While he’s likely to miss the 2009 season, he is one of the country’s elite athletes and representation will be made for him to continue to receive his annual grant of $250,000.
“In fact, now is the time he needs that financial assistance for his rehabilitation.”
Meanwhile, Serrette said when the NAAA function came off in January, all the athletes who participated at the Beijing Olympic Games would be honoured, not with cash, but in a way that they would appreciate.
He said: “As an organisation, we must recognise the performances of quartermiler Renny Quow who reached the 400 metres finals; Rondel Sorillo, who made it to the second round of the 200 metres event; and other athletes who achieved their personal best.
“All the athletes represented T&T proudly,” he added.