ESPN Caribbean begins its region wide coverage of the 2015 Pan American Games on July 10 at 7:30 pm ET with live coverage of the Opening Ceremony.

The event runs July 10 to 26 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Approximately 7,000 athletes from 41 countries will take part in 36 different sports competitions.

ESPN Caribbean’s agreement, in alliance with the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), includes English-language rights throughout the islands and on cruise ships sailing in the region.

“Our coverage of the Pan Am Games is an integral part of ESPN’s lead-up programming to Rio 2016,” said Tim Bunnell, senior vice-president of production, programming, marketing and ad sales.

“We know how important this event is to Caribbean fans and we will deliver a world-class production for our viewers. CANOC and ESPN will continue to bring locally relevant and prestigious sports content to the Caribbean region.”

“CANOC is proud of our continued association with ESPN and our role in the multi-platform distribution of the 2015 Pan AM Games in Toronto,” said Bernard Stewart, director and head of CANOC Broadcasting (CBI).

“Our combined effort to deliver to sports fans globally recognised events like the Pan Am games demonstrates our commitment to deliver unprecedented coverage of the journey of Caribbean athletes to showcase their talent in the Rio 2016 Olympics.”

ESPN will provide Caribbean fans with over 65 hours of event coverage on the ESPN Caribbean television network, along with more than 600 hours of live content streamed on ESPN Play, ESPN’s broadband platform. ESPN Play will also be complimentary to pay television subscribers from July 18 to 21.

ESPN’s live, English-language coverage of the Opening Ceremony is the first by a broadcaster in 30 years.

ESPN’s studio will be set in the heart of Toronto with the city’s emblematic skyscrapers as background. Coverage of the 17-day event will focus on track and field, diving, gymnastics, volleyball, women’s and men’s basketball, swimming, boxing and soccer.

Other exclusive ESPN Caribbean coverage includes updates with Shaka Hislop and Alexis Nunes and live, on-location event-related happenings with field reporter Toni Collins.

ESPN Caribbean’s social media channels will supplement the multimedia coverage, engaging fans with the latest news around the Games using the hashtag #PanAmXESPN.

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After seven weeks of uncertainty, Trinidad and Tobago’s 2012 Olympic Men’s 4x100m relay team received confirmation yesterday that they will be upgraded from bronze to silver, according to official information relayed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

In a short statement issued by Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president, Brian Lewis, yesterday, he stated that authorised confirmation was relayed to him by the IOC affirming the reallocation of medals to the National 4x100m team.

The local quartet receiving this Olympic upgrade comprises of newly crowned National Men’s 100m champion Keston Bledman, national record holder Richard ‘Torpedo’ Thompson, Emmanuel Callender and Marc Burns.

“We have received official confirmation from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and they have clearly communicated with us that we have a deadline that they would like us to meet which is July 18 to return the bronze medals, diplomas and pins,” explained the TTOC boss.

On May 13, it was revealed that the United States team which initially won silver behind Jamaica, were to be retrospectively disqualified following the one year suspension of team member Tyson Gay after he tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2013.

Jamaica finished ahead of the US in a world record time of 36.84 seconds to take gold in the Olympic Stadium, while team TT earned bronze in 38.12s to finish ahead of fourth-placed France. France are expected to be upgraded to bronze medal position.

“I have already written a letter to communicate this (deadline) with the athletes in question, and we will work with the athletes to ensure that we can meet that deadline so that the reallocation process can progress in accord with the IOC’s timeline.

I’m comfortable and happy that the timeline has a particular date because it brings certainty to the process,” added the former Harvard rugby player. Upon meeting the deadline, Lewis assured that he will be in frequent contact with the IOC with regards to them sending out the silver medals to TT.

When they are received, the TTOC is expected to arrange an appropriate presentation of the silver medals from London 2012 to the talented relay squad. Even though pleased with the IOC and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) due process, Lewis was a bit critical of the length of time it took to resolve this matter.

He however, remains committed to voicing his idea to officials for a speedier process in settling issues of this magnitude. “The process has taken a bit long,” Lewis stated.

“As I have always said, the IOC has their process but I have articulated a perspective that it is still a bit too protracted and unfair on the clean athletes.”

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Port of Spain, July 3^rd 2015 – On Friday 3^rd July, the National Lotteries Control Board (NLCB) and the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) revealed a landmark joint venture with the launch of “Going for Gold”, a brand new game which will raise funds for Trinidad and Tobago’s potential Olympians.

The NLCB has long supported sports development in Trinidad and Tobago, and the Going for Gold game is an important representation of the country’s sponsorship of the TTOC and its #1GOLDs24 initiative. #10Golds24 aims to cultivate a system of excellence necessary for the advancement of T&T’s local Olympic talent. The NLCB and TTOC anticipate that the Going for Gold game, which was designed by GTECH, will be instrumental in raising public awareness and stimulating further national support of the athlete’s cause.

“Today marks another huge and transformative step”, exclaimed TTOC President, Brian Lewis.

“Let me further add that we have also agreed with the NLCB that our partnership will include advertising and promotional support, internships for our athletes, training, education and ongoing professional and life-skill capacity building support and opportunities”, he concluded.

Launched in December 2014, the #10Golds24 programme aspires to make the dream of the country achieving 10 Olympic gold medals by the year 2024 a reality. The athlete welfare and preparation fund provides financial assistance to the nation’s promising sports men and women. It also provides them with the developmental tools critical to fostering a Champion mindset. The NLCB and TTOC anticipate that the Going for Gold game will be instrumental in raising awareness and stimulating further national support of the athletes’ cause.

Camille Forde, director of the NLCB, was enthusiastic about the game’s potential to augment the impact of #10Golds24. “It is our hope that the interactive element of Going for Gold will stimulate renewed interest and care for Trinidad and Tobago’s athletes,” she said. “The NLCB is passionate about supporting the achievement of our talented young people, and Going for Gold can play a significant role in helping our game-buyers feel invested in our Olympic dream.”

The NLCB looks forward to its continued partnership with the TTOC, and is confident that funds raised from the Going for Gold initiative will make a notable difference in the lives of T&T’s budding Olympic Champions.

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee received official confirmation from the International Olympic Committee that the London 2012 men's 4 X 100 sprint relay team will be reallocated the silver medal.

The TTOC is required to return the bronze medals,diplomas and pins by 18th July 2015.

The TTOC will work with the athletes to ensure the IOC deadline is met.

Brian Lewis

President

TTOC

TRINIDAD AND Tobago can expect to medal in both track and field events at this month’s Pan Am Games in Toronto, Canada. Yesterday, the National Association of Athletic Administrations (NAAA) released the final squad, which includes 20 male and 16 female athletes, as well as nine team officials.

Heading the list of gold medal contenders is Keshorn Walcott; the Olympic Men’s Javelin champion has found form, twice breaking his own national record during at successive Diamond League meets in Europe last month. Neither of the two men who have outdone the Toco-born athlete this year will compete in Toronto, since one hails from Kenya and the other from the Czech Republic. TT’s other outstanding medal hope in field competition is the evergreen Cleopatra Borel, who has also been consistent at her discipline this season.

As always, the red, white and black is expected to feature prominently in the sprints. The loss of three-time Olympic medalist Richard Thompson to injury notwithstanding, the sprint relay team will fancy its chances of mounting the prize rostrum, with Keston Bledman, Rondel Sorillo, Emmanuel Callender and Marcus Duncan among a squad of six registered for the event.

Bledman and Duncan will carry the hopes of TT in the 100 metres, while the Tobago-born duo of Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Semoy Hackett will contest the women’s equivalent.

Baptiste appears to be in excellent shape, destroying the field in the final with a 10.84 second run at last weekend’s National Open Championship, while Bledman’s time of 9.86 in the men’s final underlined the fact that he should not be underestimated in Toronto. Despite the fact that Renny Quow won the 400 metres at the Open, it is the younger Machel Cedenio who has clocked the fastest times this season. They will both contest the Men’s 400 metres and spearhead TT’s bid for precious metal in the mile relay. Jarrin Solomon and Olympic bronze medalist Lalonde Gordon will be the other runners in the relay quartet. The other athletes may not be as well-known internationally, but they will all be striving to ensure that when the games are over, their names will be on the lists of finals, and possibly also on the medals listing.

George Commissiong is the team manager and Ian Hypolite is the head coach. The games will run from July 10-26.

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Injured Thompson calls off 2015 campaign

Reigning Olympic men’s javelin champion Keshorn Walcott and 2013 IAAF World Championship men’s 400 metres hurdles gold medallist Jehue Gordon are among 35 athletes chosen to fly the Red, White and Black at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada.

Also among the 19 men selected on the Trinidad and Tobago track and field team are national 100m champion Keston Bledman and quartermiler Machel Cedenio.

Nineteen-year-old Cedenio crossed the finish line first in the NGC-Sagicor National Association of Athletics Administrations (NAAA) Open Track and Field Championship men’s 400m final, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, on Saturday. However, he was subsequently disqualified for running in Jarrin Solomon’s lane. Runner-up Renny Quow was upgraded to gold, while Solomon was promoted to silver.

Cedenio and Quow have been named to run the individual 400m event at the July 10-26 Pan Am Games. Solomon joins them in a six-man 4x400m relay pool that also includes 2012 Olympic 400m bronze medallist Lalonde Gordon, Kyle Greaux and Jehue Gordon.

Bledman and Marcus Duncan will run the individual 100m event in Toronto, and are also part of the 4x100m relay pool, The other athletes selected for the sprint relay are Rondel Sorrillo, Emmanuel Callender, sprint hurdler Mikel Thomas, and Dan-Neil Telesford.

Greaux and Sorrillo will run in the 200m event.

Walcott’s older brother, Elton Walcott has been selected for the men’s triple jump. And Quincy Wilson will represent T&T in the discus.

Missing from the Pan Am Games men’s team are three-time Olympic medallist Richard “Torpedo” Thompson and quartermiler Deon Lendore. According to a press release from the NAAA, yesterday, Thompson will “sit out the rest of the 2015 track season due to a recurring injury which has been interfering with his day to day training.

‘This will give him more time to recuperate,” the release continued, “and prepare for the Olympics in Rio 2016.” On Saturday, Thompson competed in the 100m semis, but struggled with a knee injury. He qualified for the final, but did not face the starter. Lendore is also injured, and did not compete at the Championships.

Michelle-Lee Ahye finished second to Kelly-Ann Baptiste in the women’s 100m final, but was not at full fitness, and has opted out of the Pan Am Games. NAAA public relations officer Peter Samuel told the Express, yesterday, “Ahye has a hamstring grade two muscle strain”.

Baptiste and Semoy Hackett will do battle for T&T in the Pan Am Games women’s 100m dash.

Pan Am Games team

Men: Keston Bledman (100, 4x100), Marcus Duncan (100, 4x100), Kyle Greaux (200, 4x400), Rondel Sorrillo (200, 4x100), Machel Cedenio (400, 4x400), Renny Quow (400, 4x400), Mikel Thomas (110 hurdles, 4x100), Jehue Gordon (400 hurdles, 4x400), Emanuel Mayers (400 hurdles), Elton Walcott (triple jump), Steve Waithe (triple jump), Quincy Wilson (discus), Emmanuel Stewart (discus), Keshorn Walcott (javelin), Shakiel Waithe (javelin), Emmanuel Callender (4x100), Dan-Neil Telesford (4x100), Jarrin Solomon (4x400), Lalonde Gordon (4x400)

Women: Kelly-Ann Baptiste (100, 4x100), Semoy Hackett (100, 4x100), Reyare Thomas (200, 4x100), Kamaria Durant (200, 4x100), Janeil Bellille (400, 4x400), Josanne Lucas (400 hurdles, 4x400), Sparkle McKnight (400 hurdles, 4x400), Deandra Daniel (high jump), Ayanna Alexander (triple jump), Cleopatra Borel (shot put), Marsha Mark-Baird (heptathlon), Lisa Wickham (4x100), Peli Alzola (4x100), Romona Modeste (4x400), Jessica James (4x400), Alena Brooks (4x400)

Officials: George Comissiong (manager), Ian Hypolite (head coach), Charlie Joseph (coach), Gunness Persad (coach), Nicconnor Alexander (coach), Robin Brereton (coach), Michelle Pennie (coach), Ismael Lopez Mastrapa (coach), Wade Franklyn (coach)

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