TT can learn from Jamaica

This is the opinion of Hasely Crawford, TT’s only Olympic gold medallist.

Crawford’s achievement of winning the 100 metres sprint at the 1976 Montreal Olympics in Canada was commemorated recently.

He was speaking after Trinidad and Tobago finished third in the medal count at the recent Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championships at the newly refurbished stadium which bears his name at Mucurapo.

The hosts collected 39 medals comprising 10 gold medals, 18 silver and 11 bronze. They placed well behind Mexico who had 42 medals overall in second position and first place Jamaica who took home 59 medals.

But Ken Doldron, president of the National Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA) speculated on whether Trinidad and Tobago did in fact finish third overall.

Doldron said the Mexicans who were runners-up in the medal count, may have benefited from coming out on top in exhibition events.

He said the rules of the competition do not allow medals for exhibition events such as for walking which the Mexicans won.

If the Mexicans are found to have benefited from this then TT could well end up in second place behind the Jamaicans.

Doldron believes that TT athletes have narrowed the gap with Jamaica based on their improved performance at the CAC Junior Championships.

However Crawford maintains that although TT may have made some progress in track and field, Jamaica still is the dominant force and would not be overhauled easily. “First of all the Jamaicans are patriotic, while in Trinidad and Tobago we jump on the support wagon only when our athletes are winning.” Crawford said.

He stressed that track and field is considered the main sport in Jamaica. “It is like a religion in the reggae island much more than football, cricket, basketball and all the other sports,” Crawford said.

Crawford who clocked 10.05 seconds to win Olympic gold, said track and field is part of the education system in Jamaica and is introduced to students at the primary school level.

He added that in Jamaica there is a specialised track and field teacher in each school who teaches the basics of the sport. The coaches are part of an overall development programme and are paid a salary.

Crawford pointed out that in TT there is a Physical Education teacher who is in charge of teaching all types of sports in a whole school.

“And if the Physical Education teacher does not have that love for track and field as football or cricket then the programme and the students suffer,” Crawford said.

According to Doldron however, attempts have been made with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to have such a Jamaican-styled system implemented in local schools which he believes will enhance the development of the sport.

Crawford attributed his Olympic feat to a competent management team that knew what to say to him at the right time.

He urged government to focus on the development of the youth in sport if they wanted to see progress in all spheres of life.