In order to qualify for the Games, T&T needed to be ranked in the top 19 nations in the world and/or the top 30 sleds. Though the team was ranked 38th after the final race of the season, they knew that it would place them in the necessary top-19 with two spaces to spare, qualifying ahead of Jamaica, and the Netherlands.
Over the length of the season all teams in the world have 7 or more races to gain as many points as possible across three different international circuits. After which, the points are compared, and the quota spots are decided and passed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for approval. Then, the relevant National Olympic Committees confirm whether they wish to claim those spots, nor not. Believe it or not, some countries do opt to decline their quota spot. The reason being that some NOCs will only send teams with medal chances for example and will set their own strict criteria above that of the IOC, and if their teams do not make it, they wont be allowed to compete.
However, there were no such restrictions for Trinidad & Tobago, and so when Mr Lewis of the TTOC signed the document, and the press release happened the team were finally able to celebrate the life changing news.
Since the last race in the North American Cup (NAC), the team knew that mathematically they had qualified for the Games. Nonetheless, it was still a nerve-wracking wait. On this Axel Brown the team’s pilot said “Though we knew we had qualified, there were still so many things that could change, and until the form was officially signed, we didn’t want to get ahead of ourselves. I came from an organisation that would change their minds at the drop of a hat, regardless of what it meant to their athletes. Though I knew that wouldn’t happen in T&T, I’ve been forced to be a sceptic.” He continued “Sitting on this news and not being able to tell anyone or celebrate it has been really difficult because understandably all Christmas break, I’ve been asked ‘so did you qualify?’ and I wanted to say ‘yes’ but couldn’t!”
Though the travel plans aren’t yet confirmed, the team who are currently in Calgary on a holding camp, will need to make their way to Beijing in time for the pre-Games training. There are two days of training prior to the opening ceremony which are integral for this team and especially Axel the pilot, in order to get valuable time learning the new track. A lot of the major nations were able to attend a pre-season test event in Beijing in October, where the pilots got 30-40 runs down the track. Axel will need to navigate the new track, and then compete with the best in the world as one of only three teams that did not attend the event!
All being well, the team will leave Calgary on the 27th January, and begin the long journey to the Olympic Games.