Monday August 13th was a national holiday in Trinidad and Tobago, in honor of their Olympic gold medalist Keshorn Walcott and fellow Olympians’ return home.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and thousands of locals, dressed in the national colors of red, black and white awaited the hero’s return at Trinidad’s Piarco International Airport.
The 19-year-old javelin champion, was promised house, land, a plane and a lighthouse named in his honor.
Among the gifts Keshorn will receive:
* $1 million cash
* A house in Federation Park valued at $2.5 million
* 20,000 square feet of land in Toco
* A scholarship at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).
* Caribbean Airlines aircraft to be named after Keshorn Walcott
*Toco Lighthouse to be named the “Keshorn Walcott Toco Lighthouse”
* Housing Development Corporation (HDC) project in Toco.
The people of his rural hometown of Toco are beyond ecstatic about their local hero. Check out this news piece below:
Walcott’s victory was Trinidad’s first Olympic gold in a field event and its second overall. The first one was notched 36 years ago at the Montreal Olympics when Hasley Crawford dominated the 100 meter dash.
Congratulations Keshorn. You have made Toco, Trinidad and Tobago and your Caribbean region very proud.
Check out some photos of Keshorn:
and my favorite shot….
Read these other articles on Keshorn Walcott from around the globe below:
Rueters: Athletics: Trinidad’s Walcott Takes Fast Track to Javelin Glory
BleacherReport: Keshorn Walcott: Trinidad and Tobago Relishes 2nd Gold Medal in Nation’s History
StarTribune: Trinidad gold medalist Keshorn Walcott returns to hero’s welcome – and land, money and a house
The Telegraph: Javelin champion Keshorn Walcott throws party for great democracy of athletics
Yahoo! Sports: Keshorn Walcott wins Olympic javelin gold
<
Pingback: T&T 2012 Olympians to each receive $300K from Gov't | Jay Blessed Media