Sport in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is located in the northern part of South America just six miles away from Venezuela. Officially termed as a twin island nation, it consist not only of two large land masses (Trinidad and Tobago), but many many smaller islands as well.
Though relatively small in size, Trinidad and Tobago has no shortage of sporting talents. Cricket is mostly recognized as their most popular sport. This is further fueled by an intense rivalry that the country has with their neighbors. They have also co-hosted the 2007 Cricket World Cup. As a matter of fact, one of cricket's hall of famers, Brian "Prince" Lara was born in Trinidad and Tobago.
Next only to cricket, football is also very popular. Their national team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 2006. They are by far the smallest country to ever qualify for FIFA. They also hosted the 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship as well as the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.
Basketball is also quite popular and their national team has also been making waves winning four consecutive gold medals at the Caribbean Basketball Championship (1986-1990) making them one of the most successful Caribbean teams. Other sports that have quite a following in Trinidad and Tobago include netball, rugby and even golf.
Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Trinidad and Tobago.
Popular sports of Trinidad and Tobago
- Football (Soccer), Cricket, track & field, basketball, netball, rugby union, golf
Trinidad and Tobago Sporting Success
- The national basketball team won the Caribbean Basketball Championship four times in a row from 1986–1990.
- 1979 co-winners of the Netball World Championships.
- Sprinter Hasely Crawford won the first Olympic gold medal for Trinidad and Tobago in the men's 100m in 1976
Great athletes from Trinidad and Tobago
- Brian Lara (cricket)
- Hasely Crawford (track and field)
- Ato Boldon (track and field)
- Dwight Yorke (football/soccer)
Trinidad and Tobago Sports trivia
- The first Olympic medal by an athlete from Trinidad and Tobago was silver in weightlifting by Rodney Wilkes in 1948.
- The men's national football team qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup for the first time in 2006, making them the smallest country ever (in terms of population) to qualify.
- Trinidad and Tobago compete in world cricket as part of the West Indies team.
Trinidad and Tobago at major events
- Trinidad and Tobago at the Summer Olympics
- Trinidad and Tobago at the Winter Olympics
- Trinidad and Tobago at the Commonwealth Games
- Trinidad and Tobago at the FIFA World Cup
- Trinidad and Tobago at the Netball World Cup
Past sporting events hosted in Trinidad and Tobago
- 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship
- 2007 Cricket World Cup hosted by the West Indies
- 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
Upcoming sporting events in Trinidad and Tobago
- 2024 Cricket T20 World Cup co-hosted in the West Indies (with the USA)
Annual sporting events held in Trinidad and Tobago
Sporting Facilities in Trinidad and Tobago
- Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
- St Andrews Golf Club, Maraval in Trinidad (commonly referred to as Moka)
- The Brian Lara Cricket Academy - a multi-purpose stadium in Tarouba, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
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