The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee partnered with the Tobago House of Assembly to host the first leg of its 13th annual Olympic Youth Camp in Shaw Park from July 6-11. The second leg will be held in Trinidad from July 20-25 at Olympic House. The theme this year - “10Golds24” - intends to encourage youngsters in the 11 to 14 age group to Strive for Excellence in their sporting discipline, but aims to encourage participants to remember that “the most important thing is not to win but to take part”.
Each day the athletes were exposed to the Olympic Principles of Fair Play, Respect for Others, Joy of Effort, Pursuit of Excellence and Balance between Body, Will and Mind.
Guest Facilitators included Akanni Hislop (Youth Olympian), Pietra Gay (Women’s NBA) and Sherridan Kirk (Olympian) who gave the athletes encouragement to pursue their goals, and were on hand to give sound sporting advice.
Some other interesting highlights for the participants was the inclusion of life skill sessions which focussed on Critical Thinking, facilitated by Save our Children Foundation, Sport for Development and Peace (Janine Thornhill, Commonwealth Youth Sport for Development and Peace Working Group member) and HIV/AIDS Awareness (Youth Department, THA).
The athletes were able to learn new sports from their fellow campers such as volleyball, chess, basketball, football and netball.
They were also exposed to Jump Rope (Thandiwe Prescott), Badminton and Tennis.
The closing of the camp was fashioned after the Opening Ceremony of an Olympic Games with campers parading flags from London 2012 to Tokyo 1964 made for their art project.
Youth Facilitator, Camryn Bruno performed spoken word on the 2015 activities and the Olympic Oath. Kes the band’s Olympic song “Conquerors” was sung by the campers after the “Olympic Games”were officially declared open.
Campers have the opportunity each year to return as Youth Facilitators to assist the Camp Coordinators in leadership roles.