Wednesday, February 22 2012

THE EDITOR: Help! For crying out loud they are doing it again! Words cannot describe how frustrated we feel as young, upcoming athletes, like myself, trying to aspire to do our best to represent Trinidad and Tobago, when we are literally put out of the stadium and told that we cannot practice.

Why are we continually being treated this way?

My name is Ana-Lise Hassett, I’m 15 years old, attending St Francois Girls College and I am an athlete.

The Olympic year has arrived and here athletes are being told that because of Carnival events we cannot use our National Stadium to train, in order to prepare ourselves for the Carifta games, the Olympics and any other form of competition that will enable us to improve on our past performances which motivate us to continue competing. It is a major setback. Why are they literally trampling on our pride and joy?

Some people might say that Carnival happens once a year, but bear in mind the damage to the track and the inconvenience to the athletes far outlast the few days of Carnival. As young athletes we sustained a lot of injuries on the old track. Injuries such as twisted ankles, shin splints and injuries to the hip flexors, which as athletes we know cause a great hindrance to our preparation, all we want to do is be the best we can be and represent Trinidad and Tobago but the unavailability of the stadium and cancellation of development meets do not help at all.

Leave the stadium for sporting activities please!

Thank you for the opportunity to express my discontent.



Ana-Lise Hassett

via e-mail