Athlete, coach, structural and community development were the main takeaways for sport coming out of Monday's national budget.
Though he did not give a figure for the government's investment in sport over the next fiscal year, Minister of Finance Colm Imbert outlined several plans for growth, from the community level to elite athletes and coaches.
In his budget presentation, Imbert proposed to boost sporting disciplines such as cricket, football, netball, athletics, and where available, aquatics, at various levels of development, and in multiple communities.
'I have allocated $39 million in 2024 to allow for the fostering and promotion of community sports.
'This allocation will be used to assist local sporting clubs and organisations in the hosting and management of community sporting events and competition, specialised training at the community level and the procurement of sporting equipment for use in communities.
"There can be no denying the level of talent which resides among our citizens.
'We are promoting sports in communities with emphasis on the participation of women and girls in sporting activities,' he said.
TT Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath welcomed the investment and believes it should play an important role in unearthing future national and regional talent.
'I am very pleased to hear of the additional allocation for community sports. "He said that was where international sporting heroes emerg and start to develop.
'That is a move in the right direction. Pumping this allocation into community sports will bring a lot of people back to the playing fields.'
Bassarath recalled, some time ago, he asked for an allocation from the government, to help premiership clubs prepare to play cricket for three days rather than two to improve the nation's and region's chances in the game's longest format.
On the development of TT's athletes and coaches, in sports such as athletics, football and cycling, among others, Imbert said the government has partnered with regional sporting powerhouse Jamaica to aid TT's progress.
'We will continue to develop our athletes to improve their performance. We are taking steps to strengthen the capacity of our coaches. We are providing specialist training and partnership with the GC Foster College of Physical Education and Sport in Jamaica.
'We are on the way to replicating 'brand Jamaica' in our sporting discipline, particularly in swimming, cycling, athletics and football, both for men and women.'
Local cycling president Rowena Williams lauded the government's collaborative developmental initiative and said it augurs well for the future of athletes.
'This has always been the focus over the last year. I think it is important for us to put structures in place for the development of sport in TT.
'We welcome the measures, as sport is the avenue to be used to reduce crime in this country. Giving young people the opportunity to develop their skills will always be a step in the right direction in producing high performance athletes.'
