Grenadian quarter-miler and Olympic 400m champion Kirani James will be in Trinidad and Tobago on December 28, when he will be honoured with a Caribbean Spirit of Sport award after picking up his country’s first Olympic medal in the event at the 2012 London Games in August.
A Sport Company of T&T (SPORTT) release yesterday announced the award, and heaped praises on the athlete for his achievements in 2012, while still a teenager.
“Kirani James is also credited with bringing an unparalleled spirit of humanity and true sportsmanship to the London 2012 Games,” the release stated, “as the world took notice of him swapping his Olympics tags with double amputee, Oscar Pistorius of South Africa. He stands as a perfect example of true Caribbean class, and is a role model of the people of this region, particularly our youth.”
The statement also said that T&T, as part of “Team Caribbean’, shares in the “absolute joy” of victory, evidenced by T&T’s haul of four Olympic medals.
“This unity will extend far beyond Kirani’s impressive 43.94 seconds of glory as it embodies the ideals that CARICOM seeks to foster and promote,” it further read.
“In recognition of his athletic performance and spirit of fair play Kirani James is to be awarded the Caribbean Spirit of Sport Award 2012. James will arrive in Trinidad on December 27, accompanied by his parents, and will attend the Spirit of Sport Awards red carpet gala on December 28, to receive the award.”
According to the release, Minister of Sport Anil Roberts has praised James and described him as “world-class”.
“Kirani James is an outstanding talent who has not only made his country proud and made history as the youngest 400m gold Olympic medallist, but also demonstrates humility and gratitude on the track towards his competitors,” Roberts said. “That is the mark of a world-class athlete from whom we can expect many more Olympic medals in the future. Grenada has every right to be supremely proud of this young man and his family.”
SOURCE: Trinidad Express
