Last Friday, mayor Keron Valentine kicked off the city of Port of Spain’s 102nd anniversary celebrations. Thousands turned out for the Fashion and Mas Rock the City event, the brainchild of designer Anya Ayoung Chee.

The Olympic Games in Rio is the first to be held in South America. Brazil and Rio de Janiero are home to a diverse population. It is claimed that Rio 2016 will be a catalyst for change in Rio leaving a positive legacy not only in sport, but also for society, the economy, urban infrastructure and the environment.

According to a recent report in one of the daily newspapers obesity is crushing this country’s health sector, social services sector, people’s wallet and in general it is a problem that ought to be viewed as a national issue.

Its important that the turmoil within sport locally and internationally be seen in a positive light. There are opportunities within the crisis but capitalising on those opportunities will not materialise without the vision to see the possibilities.

Athletes sacrifice years of their lives striving to compete at the very highest level. They dream of taking part in the Olympic Games and World Championships.

Due to a hectic schedule and a well documented issue that has generated significant and heated debate, I had little private head space in recent days, so much so it would have been easy to feel a sense of despair.