A TRUE SPORTSMAN – Kirani James to receive the Spirit of Sport award

GRENADIAN quarter-miler and Olympic 400m champion, Kirani James, will be in Trinidad and Tobago today, 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) announced the award, and heaped praises on the athlete for his achievements in 2012, while still a teenager.

Kirani James celebrates after winning the Men’s 400m final
at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“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.”