Trinidad and Tobago is ready to host 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games…….. By;Asghar Ali Mubarak

Trinidad and Tobago is ready to host 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games
By;Asghar Ali Mubarak

Trinidad and Tobago is ready to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games after they were selected as the host city of the multi-sport event by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) on other day. The Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) is an international multi-sport event organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The games are held every four years with the current Commonwealth Games format. The first version was held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 10 to 14 August 2000. The age limitation of the athletes is 14 to 18. The Commonwealth Games Federation discussed the idea of a Millennium Commonwealth Youth Games in 1997. In 1998 the concept was agreed on for the purpose of providing a Commonwealth multi-sport event for young people born in the calendar year 1986 or later. The first edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 10–14 August 2000. 15 countries contested 483 medals over 3 days of competition in 8 sports. A total of 773 athletes, 280 Technical Officials and around 500 volunteers participated in the event. Eight sports were contested. These included: Athletics, Fencing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lawn Tennis, Squash, Swimming and Weightlifting.The second edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Bendigo, Australia from 30 November to 4 December 2004, 22 countries participated and contested in 10 sports events spread over a period of 3 days, which included Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Rugby 7’s, Tenpin Bowling, Swimming, Cycling, Gymnastics and Weightlifting.980 athletes and team officials were involved in the Games in Bendigo. The third edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Pune, India from the 12 to 18 October 2008. Over 1,220 athletes and 350 officials from 71 countries participated in these games, in 9 disciplines -Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.The fourth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Isle of Man from 7–13 September 2011. 811 athletes from 64 commonwealth nations competed at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games.The fifth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Apia, the capital of Samoa. Samoa was the only bidders for the Games. Around 807 athletes from 65 nations and territories participated in the nine sports: aquatics, archery, athletics, boxing, lawn bowls, rugby sevens, squash, tennis and weightlifting. The sixth edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Nassau, Bahamas. The games were held from 18 to 23 July 2017. The sports contested at the Bahamas 2017 were Athletics, Swimming, Beach Soccer, Boxing, Cycling (Road), Judo, Rugby Sevens, Tennis and Beach Volleyball. It was the first time Judo, Beach Soccer and Beach Volleyball have been presented at a Commonwealth Youth Games.Trinidad and Tobago were bidding against Gibraltar for the right to stage the competition and both Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) were praised as excellent bidders by the CGF Evaluation Commission following visits in January and February this year.The CGF Executive Board voted for Trinidad and Tobago as the host of the 2021 Games at their Executive Board Meeting at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham following impressive presentations from both CGAs.Trinidad and Tobago’s success builds on the back of the Bahamas hosting a successful Games in 2017 and continues the CGF’s commitment to small states and island states.CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE: “We are delighted to award Trinidad and Tobago the opportunity to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.“We had a very strong bid process and the Board felt at this point in time, the Caribbean offers a fantastic platform for the Commonwealth Sports Movement to build upon.“We look forward to working closely with Trinidad and Tobago in the lead up to the Games in what we are confident will be a fantastic event for the aspiring young athletes of the Commonwealth. “Finally, the Board would like to thank Gibraltar once again for submitting their bid to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. We will now work with the Gibraltar CGA to identify opportunities to host future Commonwealth events.”Brian Lewis, the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association who led the bid team, said: “This is awesome and historic. On behalf of the youth, and young people of Trinidad and Tobago, thank you to the Commonwealth Games Federation.“It’s an honour to be entrusted with the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. I would like to acknowledge Rheeza Grant, Kwanieze John and Chanelle Young; the three young women who conceptualised, developed and envisioned the Trinidad and Tobago 2021 bid.”
Trinidad and Tobago joined the Commonwealth in 1962. It is the most southerly of the West Indian island states and is situated 11.2kms off the Venezuelan coast. It consists of two islands, Trinidad and Tobago.Having made their debut in the 1934 Games, Trinidad and Tobago have attended every Games since, apart from the 1950 and 1986 editions.
Trinidad and Tobago are set to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games, the seventh edition of the competition, from 1-7 August.The first ever Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Scotland in 2000 with the event subsequently going to Australia, India, Isle of Man, Samoa and most recently the Bahamas in 2017.The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is the organization that is responsible for the direction and control of the Commonwealth Games, and for delivering on the vision of the Commonwealth Sports Movement: to build peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities globally by inspiring Commonwealth Athletes to drive the impact and ambition of all Commonwealth Citizens through Sport. Trinidad and Tobago were bidding against Gibraltar for the right to stage the competition and both Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) were praised as excellent bidders by the CGF Evaluation Commission following visits in January and February this year.The CGF Executive Board voted for Trinidad and Tobago as the host of the 2021 Games at their Executive Board Meeting at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel in Birmingham following impressive presentations from both CGAs.Trinidad and Tobago’s success builds on the back of the Bahamas hosting a successful Games in 2017 and continues the CGF’s commitment to small states and island states. CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE: “We are delighted to award Trinidad and Tobago the opportunity to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.“We had a very strong bid process and the Board felt at this point in time, the Caribbean offers a fantastic platform for the Commonwealth Sports Movement to build upon.“We look forward to working closely with Trinidad and Tobago in the lead up to the Games in what we are confident will be a fantastic event for the aspiring young athletes of the Commonwealth“Finally, the Board would like to thank Gibraltar once again for submitting their bid to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. We will now work with the Gibraltar CGA to identify opportunities to host future Commonwealth events. Brian Lewis, the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association who led the bid team, said: “This is awesome and historic. On behalf of the youth, and young people of Trinidad and Tobago, thank you to the Commonwealth Games Federation.“Its an honour to be entrusted with the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games. I would like to acknowledge Rheeza Grant, Kwanieze John and Chanelle Young; the three young women who conceptualised, developed and envisioned the Trinidad and Tobago 2021 bid.”Trinidad and Tobago joined the Commonwealth in 1962. It is the most southerly of the West Indian island states and is situated 11.2kms off the Venezuelan coast. It consists of two islands, Trinidad and Tobago.Having made their debut in the 1934 Games, Trinidad and Tobago have attended every Games since, apart from the 1950 and 1986 editions.Trinidad and Tobago are set to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games, the seventh edition of the competition, from 1-7 August.The first ever Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Scotland in 2000 with the event subsequently going to Australia, India, Isle of Man, Samoa and most recently the Bahamas in 2017.