sep.09.2008

Prime Minister, Patrick Manning has sent out a warning to Jamaican athletes, saying that T&T’s boys will be out to get their gold medals at the next Olympics in London in 2012.

Manning made the comment to fans who had gathered at the Piarco International Airport yesterday to welcome home this country’s sprinters who did exceptionally well behind the sensational Jamaicans, led by 100 and 200 metres record breaker Usain Bolt, at the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Manning, as well as Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Gary Hunt welcomed home Richard Thompson, Marc Burns, Keston Beldman, Aaron Armstrong and Emmanual Calender on the tarmac after they descended from a Caribbean Airlines aircraft, which came in from Barbados at 10 am.

The sixth member of the team, injured Darrel Brown did not make the trip home as he was having tendon surgery done in Miami.

Manning and Hunt then met with the five sprinters at the conference room of the VIP Lounge and after they were introduced at the atrium to the supporters, many of whom were school children.

Manning said: “Today is a great day in the history of T&T, as we welcome home our athletes who have distinguished themselves on the world stage. Today we celebrate with these men who have achieved success because of painstaking training, discipline and determination.”

T&T collected two silver medals in the 100m and 4X100m events behind Jamaica at the Beijing Olympics, on both occasions proving to the world that the Caribbean has the fastest runners in the universe.

Manning continued: “Their efforts have placed this country on the world map. I am saying today that the government will continue to assist athletes in this country with their training and preparation so that they can achieve their best and make this country proud.

“I must warn Jamaica that they have to look out, because our boys will be coming after their medals at the next Olympics. T&T is on the warpath, let them know.”

Thompson, the silver medalist behind Bolt in the men’s 100m, was warmly greeted by the fans and said better is still to come. “We would like to thank you all for all the support and we will continue to make this country of ours proud.

“I would like to personally thank my family, as well as Ashwin Creed, who encouraged me to make that crucial step in the my career four years ago.”
Source: www.guardian.co.tt

Thompson switched from football to athletics on the advice of Creed, a former athlete and currently the deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.

Thompson also paid tribute to past Olympic heroes stating: “As Bob Marley’s song goes ‘In the future you can’t forget the past’. I would like to pay tribute to Hasely Crawford, Edwin Skinner, Edwin Roberts, Wendell Mottley, Ato Boldon and of course MacDonald Bailey.”

Thompson said he would like the performance of the athletes to serve as an inspiration to the young people of this country.

“I know how important it is to have role models, and people you look up to, and I am willing to visit schools and communities to meet with young people and try to turn around this country.”

He also threw a hint to the government, as far as funding is concerned, saying: “Britain and the United States invested US$1 million into their 4X100m team and today they don’t have a medal to show for it. Imagine if we can get that type of assistance, what we would be able to achieve.”

Among those present to greet the runners at the Airport were Ato Boldon, former Olympic medalist; Hasely Crawford, who won gold at the Montreal Olympics in 1976; and president of the National Amateur Athletics Association (NAAA), Ephraim Serrette.

Serrette, a former national athlete, said: “This is truly a great feeling for the guys to have the fans come out to greet them. I remember how I felt in 1978 when we won gold at the CAC Games and were greeted by the fans.

“It is my hope that the youngsters take in this and draw motivation to make themselves better citizens. Sport is the right tool to combat crime and let’s hope that what’s happening here serve to help mould the youngsters.”