Port of Spain, Trinidad. Picture a space with immense buzzing sounds; the sound of conversations amongst the people of Trinidad and Tobago speaking nothing but the Olympics Games and Team TTO. A park we pass by on a regular with barely any sign of life; but this time filled with colourful tents boasting of red, white and black. Imagine walking into a dynamic space filled with culture, music, dance and sport; a place where all are welcome to share the same passion and witness the power of sport to unify a nation. The Olympic Park – Trinbagonian style.
The Olympic Games is the most anticipated multi-sport event on the global calendar. Following the ‘One year to Rio 2016’ acknowledgement at Olympic House on Wednesday 5th August, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), Brian Lewis, wants to turn the Lord Harris square into an Olympic experience. The idea is to recreate the square into an Olympic Park and the surrounding community into an Olympic neighbourhood.
The Olympic Park will be focused on creating an Olympic experience for supporters of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic team. The park will include a number of different features to attract supporters with the intention of building greater awareness and support for sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
More so, the surrounding community will be an Olympic neighbourhood focusing on shedding a historic and positive light on the capital city. With a number of Primary and Secondary schools in Port of Spain, the Olympic Park will create a space for learning as we continue to educate persons about the Olympic movement, T&T’s Olympic history healthy lifestyles and Trinbagonian culture.
On the Road to Rio 2016, bringing the idea of an Olympic Park will be ideal for capturing the Olympic spirit. The vision of 10 or more Olympic gold medals by the year 2024 is a huge challenge but requires the necessary support to spark these ideas into existence.