Pellau Magazine

T&T’s Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott will return to school in September. Walcott yesterday signed his letter of acceptance to the Certificate in Sport Studies Programme at the University of T&T (UTT) for the 2012-2013 academic year. The programme, which begins on September 3, 2012, comes under full scholarship which will cover personal security for Walcott, as well as books, room and board, meals, equipment, a laptop, transportation, stipend and health insurance.

The value of the scholarship was not disclosed. UTT will also rename and dedicate its High Performance Programme and build a varsity stadium in Walcott’s honour. Walcott’s manager, Sean Roach, said T&T’s second gold medallist wants to start the programme next month. “We have gotten all the packages today. We know that he (Walcott) wants to start in September so we are going to be reviewing it a couple of days and see what else is being offered. I know there is a great sports management programme here (UTT).”

Walcott could not say what he wants to focus on, education wise. “I am not looking for benefits for myself. For the country it will be great, knowing that we will have an additional stadium to train and have competitions. Now, UTT is getting their own stadium. I am sure there are athletes at UTT who may have trouble in training,” Walcott said beaming with pride, when asked what he thought about the varsity stadium that will be named after him.

The signing took place at UTT’s O’Meara campus in the presence of Tertiary Education and Skills Training Minister Fazal Karim, UTT’s chairman Curtis Manchoon, UTT’s acting president Dr Fazal Ali, Walcott’s coach Ismael Lopez and Roach two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar announced at Piarco International Airport that Walcott would be granted a scholarship from UTT as his reward for gold medal performance in the men's javelin throw at the London Olympics last Saturday.

Walcott, 19, of Toco won the event with a throw of 84.58 metres. The certificate in sport studies runs for one year, Karim explained. “Then that leads to the bachelor’s degree. There is a future ahead in terms of how do you move from where he (Walcott) is now to where he can be,” Karim said. Karim said UTT will provide all the resources necessary to maintain, improve and enhance Walcott’s performance on the field.

Karim also revealed that Government was in search of lands for the stadium, which will not be mammoth like the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain. “What we will be looking at is track and field facilities dedicated to athletic students.” In a UTT letter dated August 15, addressed to Walcott, it states, “Further to the announcement of the honourable Prime Minister, the UTT hereby formally offers you a scholarship to pursue your education and continue your training as part of our High Performance Athletic Programme.”

Karim said once Walcott agrees to have the High Performance Programme at UTT renamed in his honour, “We intend to engage in discussions with your management to work out an endorsement contract, as is required, to facilitate your name, image and likeness in an advertising campaign for the programme of the Academy of Sports and Leisure Studies at UTT.”

Walcott will be required to enter into a scholarship contract with UTT, which will set out the value of the scholarship and details on his duties and responsibilities as a student-athlete. Karim also announced that UTT will engage the services of Roach as Walcott’s current coach.

Karim said he wants to continue collaborating with Walcott in recognition of his signal accomplishment, knowing that he has already created a big impact on T&T’s youth. “In advance of this high performance athletic programme that the University of Trinidad and Tobago, embark immediately, on design architecture for its own university stadium. That will be something of a dream come true, but it is also in pursuance of what lies ahead for the performance of our athletes.”

Karim said he intends to take the proposal to Cabinet to acquire the lands needed for the stadium. “I always believe that things do not happen by chance but certainly by intervention.” Roach said this was a happy moment for Walcott and himself. “This whole process and journey was a team effort. The plan for Keshorn to join the UTT programme was not a plan that came after the medal. It was always in our plans. When we set our goals out for Keshorn and for the accomplishments that we wanted him to achieve this year...one of the goals was education.”

Roach said they wanted to start Keshorn’s journey with the best programme available and felt UTT was the ideal institution. “The fact that Keshorn was staying home to train...we wanted to ensure that some of the successes on his journey was homegrown. The University of Trinidad and Tobago was probably one of the best decisions ever made.” Roach said he hopes that Walcott can use his brand to push and develop UTT.

Roach described Walcott’s achievement as a vessel that was needed in the country.
“When you get a national success at this level it is not just for one person...it’s everybody’s input, dreams and prayers. Everybody played an important part. And even with him coming to UTT, this is another part of that journey.”

http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2012-08-16/keshorn-enrolls-utt