$1m to send athletes to Pan Am Games

FORMER World 200 Metres champion Ato Boldon heads a list of 90 athletes yesterday ratified by the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee for the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo in August. Also included in the list of athletes and officials are boxer Kurt Manswell, Commonwealth silver medallist; and world junior sprint champion Darrel Brown. Yesterday Brian Lewis, Chef de Mission of the team said the athletes were approved based on their meeting the qualifying standards and the fitness tests conducted by the Olympic Committee. He said it would cost approximately one million dollars to send the team to Santo Domingo. However Lewis stressed the priority of the Olympic Committee was to provide the environment to prepare the athletes adequately to challenge for medals. Lewis is optimistic that the local contingent will give a better account of themselves than the last time in Winnipeg, Canada when TT won a bronze medal in the cycling competition through Mario Joseph. He said the locally-based athletes will get an excellent opportunity to fine-tune their preparation in regional competitions and at overseas camps. This involves the badminton team in the CAREBACO Championships in Trinidad; the track and field team at the Senior Central American and Caribbean Championships in Grenada; and the swimmers at the upcoming CCAN Championships. Lewis said the Olympic Committee are extending assistance to several disciplines in the lead-up to the Pan American Championships. One of the beneficiaries is boxer Manswell who is currently in Cuba on a training stint. The Tobagonian heavyweight is the only Caribbean boxer to qualify for the Pan Am Games and will be seeking to go one ahead and win a place in the Athens Olympics competition with victory in Santo Domingo. Following is the list of athletes and officials approved by the Olympic Committee yesterday for the Pan Am Games.

Badminton: (Men) Anil Seepaul, Darron Charles, Kerwyn Pantin, Glendon Thomas; (Women) Sabrina Cassie, Zeudi Mack, Nadine Julien, Stephanie Mitchell; Ronald Clarke (manager), Daron Dascent (coach).
Boxing: Kerston Manswell, Gordon Hoyte (manager), Vicente Martinez (coach).
Volleyball: (men) Nolan tTsh, Sean Morrison, Daymian Stewart (manager), Juan Carlos Gala (coach).
Hockey: 16 athletes, 4 officials; (Women) 16 athletes, 4 officials.
Shhoting: (Rifle Men) Takoor Sankar, Taran Deosaran; (Pistol Men) Roger Daniel; (Pistol Women) Cheryl-Ann Logie; (Trap Men) Trevor Lall; Clarion Tang Choon (manager), Brent Thomas (coach), Allen Trestrail (manager-Trap).
Equestrian: Margaret Auerbach, Sara McCartney (manager), Greta Wrigley (coach), Randy Bridgelal (groom).
Swimming: (Men) George Bovell, Nicholas Bovell, Matthew Hollier, Ryan Yearwood, John Littlepage; (Women) Linda McEachrane, Sharntelle McLean, Shannon Duval, Catherine Lee Ha, Ayeisha Collymore, George Bovell Snr., (manager), Anil Roberts (coach).
Taekwondo: Cheryl Ann Sankar, Lyle Alexander (manager), Sherland Flores (coach),.
Tennis: (Men) Shane Stone, Troy Stone, Ivor Grazette; (Women) Annaliese Rose, Ashton Wharwood (manager), Richard Ferdinand (coach).
Athletics: (Men) Darrel Brown, Jacey Harper — 100m; Marvin Regis, Julien Raeburn — 200m; Ato Modibo, Damian Barry — 400m; Sheridan Kirk — 800m; Quincey Howe —- triple jump; Cleavon Dillon — long jump; Dave Stoute — shot put; Darrel Brown, Marc Burns, Nicconor Alexander, Ato Boldon, Jacey Harper, Cleavon Dillon — 4X100m; Ato Modibo, Sheridan Kirk, Jamil James, Damian Barry, Julien Raeburn — 4X400m; (Female) Fana Ashby, Kelliann Baptiste — 100m; Keenan Gibson, Fana Ashby — 200m; Adia McKinnon — 400m; Melissa de Leon — 800m; Cabndice Scott, Cleopatra Borrell — shot put; Candice Scott — Hammer; Onika James — long jump; Fana Ashby, Keenan Gibson, Onika James, Kelliann Baptiste , Wanda Josanne Hutson, Adia McKinnon — 4X100m; Carlene Haynes (manager), George Commissiong (assistant manager), Nadine Hamid (head coach), Gunness Persad (assistant coach)
Olympic Committete Oficials: Brian Lewis (Chef de Mission), Wendell La Bastide (assistant Chef de Mission);
Medical: Dr Terry Ali, Dr Dale Hassranah, Dr Keith Clifford
Sports Psychologist: Dr Margaret Ottley
Physiotherapists: Karielle de Bique, Chanol Ottley
Massage Therapists: Andre Ferguson, Linda Tang Yew, Jane Durham, Ian Sharpe.