No recognition for other swimmers

THE EDITOR: I feel compelled to write this letter after observing the media coverage of the TT swim squad that represented Trinidad and Tobago at the 2003 Pan Am Games.

It seems to me that the only member of the squad was George Bovell! Now I know the boy is quite skilled and deserves the praise that he has received, and maybe even more, but I feel sorry for the other athletes who were minutely recognised for their efforts. You should have seen the faces of the other eight swimming athletes and support staff on arrival at the VIP lounge at Piarco where they were greeted with a sign saying “Congratulations George Bovell III, Anil Roberts and Other Swimmers.” Not to mention George Bovell’s own brother Nicholas who was jokingly referred to as “George Bovell the Second” by Coach Anil Roberts. You should have seen Nicholas’s face. There is much to tell about the treatment many of the swimmers on this team endured in Santo Domingo, while specific swimmers  given special treatment, stayed in separate hotels.

There is also much to tell about how club rivalry leads to the unfair treatment of athletes and believe me, this has nothing to do with skin colour. It is unfortunate that the swimmers cannot tell of these injustices that faced them for fear of being victimised by their own Trini officials and financiers. Shame on you Anil Roberts (Coach) and George Bovell Senior (Manager) for making your other swimmers, who sacrificed just as much and, some even more than your star swimmer, feel as if they were worthless. Shame on you the media for writing paragraphs upon paragraphs and publishing front page upon front page on George Bovell and only briefly recognising the other athletes who were Linda Mc Eachrane, Shartelle McLean, Catherine Lee Ha, John Littlepage, Ayeisha Collymore, Nicholas Bovell, Shannon Duval, Matthew Houllier. And shame on us, a forever accepting public, that will blatantly see injustices taking place in so many forms and never stand up against it.
            
TONY DUKE
Port-of-Spain