The Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) has sought to clarify the booking of the National Cycling Velodrome (NCV) for an all fours competition on the weekend.
The event was a Trinidad and Tobago All Fours Federation (TTAFF) tournament, hosted on August 24 and 25. As a national governing body for sport (NGB), recognised by the Ministry of Sport and Community Development, TTAFF is entitled to book the venue in accordance with the venue’s usage policy.
SporTT said the booking for the event was approved on July 15. Stakeholders, including the Trinidad and Tobago Cycling Federation (TTCF), were informed on July 31 that the National Cycling Velodrome had been booked for an alternate event last weekend, more than three weeks before the planned event.
SporTT policy dictates that requests to host national sporting activities at national facilities must be made through NGBs. NGBs are also responsible for informing athletes under their purview once updated that a relevant national facility is unavailable.
And while cycling is the primary sport hosted at NCV, the venue is a multisport facility. The centre court floor is also used for hosting various sporting events, including gymnastics, netball, basketball and jump rope competitions.
Regarding the nature of the event, SporTT said that gambling was not part of the tournament. The machinery depicted on the premises was placed there during the offloading of tables and chairs from a delivery vehicle and was not a part of setup for the TTAFF event. Food and drink in the competition area of all national facilities is also strictly prohibited. The Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago reiterated its commitment to sport development and supporting national athletes at every level.