Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee target ten gold medals by 2024 after cash boost

Flow hope the funds will boost the country's athletes ahead of Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 ©Facebook/TTOC

Telecommunications company Flow have boosted the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee’s goal of winning ten or more Olympic gold medals by 2024 by pledging to give TT$5 million ($790,000/£500,000/€700,000) across the next five years to the local track and field committee.

It comes just two months after Toyota Trinidad and Tobago Limited committed to giving TT$750,000 (£76,000/$118,000/€107,000) over the next five-years as the country’s athletes build towards Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.

TTOC President Brian Lewis was joined by Flow’s managing director Brian Collins to announce the partnership at a press conference at the governing body’s office in Port of Spain, with Lewis saying that the money would go towards helping the country’s elite stars.

“This is focused initially on the elite athletes, this is about ten or more Olympic gold medals by 2024,” he said.

“Today the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee is a proud partner of one of the most innovative and visionary corporate entities in the region, and one can dare say further afield.”

To date Trinidad and Tobago has won two Olympic gold medals in its history, with Hasely Crawford winning the country’s first when he triumphed in the men’s 100 metres at the Montreal 1976 Games, while Keshorn Walcott claimed the men’s javelin gold at London 2012.

Keshorn Walcott earned men's javelin gold at London 2012 ©Getty Images

Collins hopes that the long-term partnership and funding will allow the TTOC to plan ahead and he revealed that the company would provide as much support as possible in the build-up to the next two Summer Olympic Games.

“As a corporate sponsor of development and community in the country in which we do business we examine our involvement from three perspectives—how are we supporting, how are we helping and what will success look like as a stakeholder,” he said.

“The ten or more gold medals by 2024 helped us see that clearly by helping our T&T athletes prepare for the Olympic Games.

“Contributing to the success of these individuals, who are so passionate about what they do and who would like to do well for themselves and for the love of their sport and country, it was a no brainer for us.”