Milo Primary School Games May 22

THE 41st annual National Primary Schools Track and Field Championships, comprising eight zones throughout Trinidad and Tobago, take place on May 22 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.

The event will be sponsored by Nestle Trinidad and Tobago Limited —- venue of the launching on Thursday —- and held under the patronage of the Ministry of Education. According to Victor Hunte, treasurer of the National Primary Schools Track and Field Association, “the Championships guarantee continuing development of talent in the primary school”. “It is the major avenue through which young athletes exhibit their skills acquired through the limited physical education programme,” he continued. “It provides an avenue for national, regional and international competitions.”

Among the objectives of the Championships are to guarantee continuing development of talent in the primary school; preparing local young athletes for junior, national, regional and international competitions; encouraging participation of primary school students in the competitive aspect of physical education and sport and ensuring that children throughout the country are exposed on an equitable basis to advanced techniques and approaches to training. Hunte revealed: “The competition is conducted from the level of the school, through the Zonal Games, leading to the District Games then to the National Championships.”

The competing zones are Port-of- Spain and environs, Caroni, St George East, North East, St Patrick, South East, Victoria and sister isle Tobago, and athletes will participate in four age groups - Under-9, 9-11, 11-13 and 13-15, with Victor and Victrix Ludorum trophies being presented to the top athletes in each division. Twenty-four field and 35 track events will be held on the day, while trophies will be presented to the winning March Past team and the winning district.