With the Junior Pan American Games on the horizon, the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC), through its Athletes’ Commission, successfully hosted a dynamic athlete development workshop on Saturday 28 June, 2025, at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua.
Designed to prepare athletes vying for national selection, the full-day session welcomed over 90 young athletes and coaches for a series of engaging, interactive sessions under the theme: “On the Road to Building Strong Athletes.”
This initiative focused on empowering athletes beyond their physical training by covering six essential areas:
- Safeguarding in sport
- Social media and personal branding
- Etiquette and professionalism
- Nutrition for high performance
- Conversational Spanish and cultural awareness
- Anti-doping awareness and education
The workshop opened with powerful words from Chef de Mission Designate Jariel Mc Collin, who reminded athletes that representing Trinidad and Tobago is about more than competition it's about legacy and values.
“Strive for greatness, build real friendships, show respect, play fair, give your all, and take care of your body and your mind,” she shared. “Preparation cannot only take place on the field of play because challenges do not only exist on the field of play.”
Participants described the day as energetic, informative, and deeply motivating. Each session was designed to reflect real-life challenges athletes may face during international competition—and offer practical, culturally relevant tools to help them respond with confidence and integrity.
A wide range of experts facilitated the sessions, including professionals in sports safeguarding, public relations and communications, sport nutrition, and Olympic education. Interactive discussions encouraged athletes to speak up, ask questions, and reflect on what it means to be an ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago.
“Workshops like this give athletes more than knowledge they provide perspective, purpose, and a sense of responsibility,” said a representative from the TTOC Athletes’ Commission.
While the final team for the Asunción 2025 Junior Pan American Games has not yet been confirmed, the TTOC will announce the official delegation following the conclusion of its internal selection process and the ratification of the team by the council.
As the countdown to the Games continues, this workshop reaffirmed the TTOC’s commitment to building well-rounded athletes who will lead with values, compete with pride, and represent the red, white, and black with excellence on and off the field.
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