Trinidad and Tobago lay groundwork for 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games

Trinidad and Tobago edged ever closer to realizing the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games last week with a series of announcements regarding the sports program, venue clusters, and composition of the organizing committee board.

Dubbed, “Trinbago 2023,” events will take place on both the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Couva will be the hub for events on the island of Trinidad, with officials yet to indicate where events will take place on the island of Tobago.

The twin island nation will play host to seven sports during the youth multi-sport event, namely athletics, beach volleyball, cycling (road and track), FAST5 netball, rugby sevens, swimming, and triathlon.

The local organizing committee will be headed by Ephraim Serrette, Vice President of the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association (TTCGA).

He will be joined on the organizing committee board by TTCGA President Diane Henderson, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.) of the Ministry of Sport and Community Development for Trinidad and Tobago Gabre Jesu McTair, and SporTT Head of Partnerships and Alliances Kairon Serrette.

TTCGA Secretary General Annette Knott will also occupy a place on the board due to her role in overseeing CGA Relations.

Ephraim Serrette commented on the state of affairs following his appointment as chair of the local organizing committee, telling the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, “It’s going to be seven different sporting disciplines and we now have less than a year for us to make it happen.”

He added, “some of the venues would be close to being ready as we were due to have the event in 2021, but because of the pandemic it was postponed, so in some cases, it will be for us just to revisit our plans for these venues and most definitely rethink the overall budget.”

TTCGA President Diane Henderson remembered the tumultuous road leading to postponement, stating, “Trinidad and Tobago were awarded the right to stage the seventh edition of the Games by the Commonwealth Games Federation at its General Assembly in Birmingham.”

“The decision came after Trinidad and Tobago were initially awarded the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games in June 2019, but that event was postponed due to the impact of the pandemic on the international sport calendar,” explained Henderson.

She added, “we look forward to great things in the near future!”

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin voiced her expectations for a “thrilling and competitive” Games.

She hyped up the event further, labeling it, “an invaluable springboard for the stars and leaders of tomorrow,” adding, “the Games will be a truly special and inspiring experience for young athletes from across the Commonwealth.”

The organization of the event now rests squarely on local organizers with less than a year to go until the event.

The 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games are scheduled to take place August 4-11, 2023.