The London 2012 Olympic Games starts in July. T&T will hopefully gain medal success. The question is would the twin island state be wearing the emblem ‘TRI’ rather than ‘TnT’? There must be an emblem that includes the island state of Tobago.
The time is too long overdue for us to be seen as ‘TRI’. Sixty-four years of penance! Is the TTOC being fair with the non-inclusion of Tobago? Is there a moral conscience? The change is long over-due. Fifty years of non inclusion of Tobago constitutes a willful neglect of duty. The TTOC know the rules, the time frame window for application, the statute of limitations. Ignorance of this fact is no excuse for negligence. Other smaller states have ensured that the parent body makes the necessary change within the past few years. On what is the TTOC waiting? Have they made an effort to make the abbreviation representative of T&T—one nation under one flag. The TTOC must make a justifiable effort, not a case, for the change to take place. The country must feel the pulse of your concerted involvement and commitment to try.
Trinbagonians are dissatisfied with the performances of the Olympic Committee. The international community is questioning the significance of the abbreviation ‘Tri’ which does not include Tobago. At the 1948 London Olympic Games, under British rule, 64 years ago, T&T was represented by the abbreviation “TRI”. How is the new Republic to be represented?” If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. This is the Modus Vivendi of the TTOC. One wonders if the TTOC is acting responsibly. There is the mysticism of secrecy fuelled by fear of failure. It motivates their action or inability to act responsibly by not embracing Tobago into the equation. The story of the rights of man reflects the power of the human spirit to change history, despite seemingly insurmountable odds. 64 years! T&T How could such an implausible metamorphosis have occurred? The questions of values! Of what significance is Tobago athletics to the nation? What gives something genuine value? Is all value subjective? This is not consistent with the TTOC’s thinking. This view opens the door to a question of redefining and fine tuning the ability of the TTOC to see how deep the question of ethics, morality and value apply to the choices that governs there survival. It projects and affects our national platform. Will the Republic of T&T still use the bamboo to pole vault?
As an Olympian, athletics represents the perfect expression of the Olympic motto ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ (‘Faster, Higher, And Stronger’)— the competition requires athletes to run faster, throw further, jump higher and leap longer than their rivals. With 2,000 athletes competing in 47 events, athletics is the largest single sport at the Games. When London calls, who will answer the phone?
Staged in the brand new Olympic Stadium, the 24 track events (12 for men, 12 for women) will be held over distances ranging from 100m to 10,000m. Some events will also feature obstacles to negotiate, as in the 400m hurdles and the 3000m steeplechase.
The majority of track events begin with one or more rounds of heats, with the best athletes eventually qualifying for the final. So will “TRI”! Sorry Tobago! You have the horses. You will have to wait before you are part of the equation. By the way do you have anyone on the TTOC executive? The TTOC is dividing the country’s athleticism. They lost out on a chance of a lifetime. The ‘inward hunger’ lives on. The poignant question what moves have the TTOC made to correct the 64-year-old question? How could you be late for 64 years of waiting? How could you not address the situation within 50 years as a Republic? Must the IOC or the IAAF take action? Fifty years as a Republic without sensitivity or equal representation. As a nation. Tobago stands alone.
