The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) and The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today, Friday 18th September, 2020 at the Olympic House in Port-of-Spain.
Ian Pritchard, Senior Manager (Ag.) Sport and Recreation at The UTT indicated that this MoU will establish a framework for collaboration between UTT and the TTOC, increasing the research, educational and training opportunities available to members of both institutions. Both parties expect that this will create opportunities for faculty, staff and athletes and allow accessibility to physical resources to support programmes of mutual interest.
Mr. Pritchard further indicated that a Partnership Committee, whose primary responsibility is to implement and execute the proposed goals stated in the MoU, will be established, comprising representatives of both entities.
TTOC and UTT look forward to working together to strengthening each other’s organisational capacity to the benefit of the wider society of Trinidad and Tobago.
Over the past five (5) months the TTOC has hosted a series of courses and webinars and has forged collaborations, such as this one with the University, aimed at weathering this crisis situation, as well as preparing and upskilling our athletes, coaches and administrators for the future sporting environment.
According to Annette Knott, Secretary General of the TTOC, “a meaningful collaboration has been estabished with the UTT as we explore all the opportunities in Education and Research. Our joint webinars and research projects have included care and injury prevention, where the medical staff volunteers of the TTOC have joined with the scientists at UTT to look to the best practices during this period.”
Ms. Knott further stated, “as we navigate the next steps in our Sporting environment our expectation can only be that our strength will be in continued collaborations with all the stakeholders.”
President of the TTOC Brian Lewis explained that this is a first for the TTOC and a symbolic event. The world of sport is no longer recreation but high performance.
Lewis also stated “This MoU is therefore not ticking a box for some courses but delivering technology and processes based on research and development. It must complement the work of the national sporting organisations”.
Mr. Lewis further stated “the real opportunity of this MoU is a start point for research and development. The priority from the TTOC perspective is implementation”.