(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) As Caribbean Community athletes continue their drive to excellence, “they will inspire their peers and indeed the entire Community to emulate them in their commitment and dedication.”

This was the sentiment expressed by the Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque in a message praising the performance of the Region’s athletes at the recently concluded London 2012 Olympic Games.

Ambassador LaRocque said the Community was “ecstatic at the performance of its athletes” in garnering a record 18 medals - seven (7) gold, four (4) silver and seven (7) bronze. We are truly elated at this remarkably historic feat and hail Team CARICOM as our heroes of the Olympics, with particularly. The Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago blazing a path to golden opportunities and possibilities to which other athletes and other Caribbean youth can aspire,” he added.

In so doing, the Secretary-General said, the athletes “demonstrated clearly that the youth of the Region can not only compete at the global level but can also dominate in their chosen field.” He singled out the fact that three teenagers earned medals, including two who won gold, and said that this was even more gratifying. The Secretary-General underlined the value of the CARIFTA Games in pointing out that almost every one of the medal winners had their beginnings in that event.

He also stated that for the first time an athlete won a gold medal in both the CARIFTA Games and the Olympic Games in the same year. The Community recognised and applauded the efforts of all its athletes who participated in the London 2012 Games the Secretary-General said while also paying tribute to the coaches and administrators.