Sports Ministry injects $1M in CCCAN Champs

Trinidad and Tobago won the rights to host the major junior event, scheduled from June 24 to July 2 at the National Aquatic Centre in Couva, on the strength of the nation’s newest swimming facility, which managed by the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT ).

The CCCAN Championships is currently the largest aquatics event in the western hemisphere and features a variety of disciplines including Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Open Water and Synchronised Swimming.

Athletes, coaches and spectators, from 33 Caribbean and Central American countries, will be arriving on our shores for the auspicious event.

With the intentions of the Sport Ministry to regenerate and enhance a sustainable sport tourism industry, taking advantage of this opportunity to market the facility and its services - to tap into the niche of aquatic sports- is of utmost importance in propelling sports tourism.

Sports Minister Darryl Smith was delighted to offer the financial support as he presented ASATT president Wendell Lai Hing, with the million- dollar cheque and encouraged corporate TT to follow suit.

During a media conference yesterday at the Ministry’s Head Office in St Clair, Smith stated, “Since the opening (last year), all areas of the Aquatic Centre have been utilised extensively.

“It has undergone routine maintenance and is prepared to host an event of this magnitude.

“I assure corporate sponsors that they will get ‘bang for their buck’ if they choose to invest in the tournament.

“With over 1,500 visitors expected, plus local spectators and viewing audiences across the region, there are unlimited opportunities to promote your product or service. I also have full confidence in ASATT to deliver on the promise of an efficient and exciting tournament in all four disciplines - swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming.” Team TT will number over 60 athletes and entails a blend of experience and youth, leaving all eyes focused on Joshua Romany, Kristin Julien, Cherelle Thompson and Olympian Dylan Carter as they are all expected to successfully compete in the swimming events.

According to Lai Hing, the talent pool is extensive as the entries are coming in thick and fast. He said, “I wish firstly to thank the Minister and SporTT for the financial and other support, and assure you that we won’t let you down.

“We are excited at the prospect of hosting CCCAN and making it a truly national event of which every citizen can be proud.” The national team will participate in four out of the five disciplines with Syncronised Swimming being the only discipline where the local athletes will not be competing.

Lai Hing added, “We will also have two divers representing TT and we thank SporTT for facilitating the athletes, in all disciplines, to train at the Aquatic Centre, familiarise themselves with the space and ensure we have a ‘home court’ advantage. This will certainly come into play as the event is FINA-sanctioned, meaning those in Open categories can qualify for the FINA World Championships.” The main events at the 2017 CCCAN Championships will take place at the National Aquatic Centre, with the exception of the Open Water events on June 24 and 26, which will be held at Turtle Beach in Tobago, as a form of sporting partnership with the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and the Tourism Development Company (TDC).