Crawford honoured 30 years after feat

First the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) presented Crawford with $60,000 and a token of appreciation for achievement which gained Trinidad and Tobago international recognition.

His tribute coincided with the honouring of former NLCB executive Phillis Alfred for her 32-year contribution to the company.

Chief Executive Officer of the NLCB Louis Lee Sing also announced that the corporate box at the Queen’s Park Oval will be named after her.

Lee Sing said he has seen Alfred move up the ranks to executive level in the company and he hopes that others in her position will provide the foundation for those who come afterwards.

Crawford’s historic achievement said Lee Sing is still the most prestigious in the history of sports in Trinidad and Tobago.

A few hours later Crawford again was in the spotlight as radio station WMJX 100.5 in collaboration with CCN TV 6 also paid tribute to his success.

The National Gas Company official later shared his gold medal-winning experience with invited guests at the CLICO Corporate Box at the Oval.

National Amateur Athletic (NAAA) president Ken Doldron revealed that both Crawford and quadruple Olympic medalist Ato Boldon have been appointed advisers to all junior track and field teams that will be leaving this country for overseas competitions.

Doldron said that since winning the Olympic gold and putting this country on the world map, Crawford has been fighting a battle for track and field.

Among them is the “Right On Track” programme for which he has been travelling to all parts of the country and up the islands unearthing new talent. Doldron gave Crawford the assurance that the NAAA will partner him in his pursuit of athletic excellence among the young people.

The athletics official said that two additional seats have been reserved for his family at the Mucurapo stadium which has been named after him.

Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes announced that government has also contributed to a fund set up by corporate Trinidad and Tobago, Government and citizens as a gift for Crawford for his achievement.

Boynes also said that Government is considering ways to contribute towards Crawford’s children. Government has provided $200,000 towards the fund which now stands at $380,000.

And Tony Harford, Chief Executive Officer of WMJX said he expected the amount to increase to near half a million dollars because of the favourable response they had been getting.

President George Maxwell Richards said that the fact that corporate TT had put together the function shows that they understand the importance that sport play in the development of the country.

President Richards said Crawford’s achievement came about from a commitment and discipline to succeed. He pointed out that sportsmen and women must take off from where Crawford left off.

However he urged the young people that they must equip themselves with a solid educational background alongside their sports careers.

Crawford said to be a gold medal winner you must have an inner force to go foward.

He said the athlete must want to achieve more than their opponents and work toward it.

He added that his medal came because he had a steady management team that knew what to say to an athlete at any time.

He urged government and corporate TT that if we are to progress in track and field they must invest in youth development.