Trinidad and Tobago will host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games after they were selected as the host city of the seventh edition of the multi-sport event by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

The Caribbean nation won the right to host to 2021 edition ahead of Gibraltar and Trinidad and Tobago’s success follows the Bahamas hosting a successful Games in 2017 and continues the CGF’s commitment to small states and island states.

The 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games will be held from 1-7 August with the sports and events program to be confirmed. The bid included aquatics, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, netball, tennis and track and field.

Commonwealth Games Australia CEO Craig Phillips congratulated the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association on their successful bid.

“Australia has participated in all six Commonwealth Youth Games and we now look forward to accelerating our planning towards the seventh edition in 2021 in Port of Spain,” Phillips said.

“Participation in the Commonwealth Youth Games is a vital part of CGA’s commitment to young and developing athletes. Seventy-five emerging Australian athletes had their chance to represent Australia in the Bahamas in 2017 with flag bearer and dual gold medallist Riley Day (athletics) along with teammates Bendere Oboya and Keely Small going on to compete in the senior athletics team on the Gold Coast.”

“The Commonwealth Youth Games provides an important opportunity for developing young athletes to experience a multi-sport Games, but also provides an opportunity for the next generation of team support staff who could potentially be involved in future Commonwealth Games,” Phillips added.

To date 84 athletes have graduated from the Youth Games to the Commonwealth Games since the first edition in 2000.

The 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games was held in Nassau, Bahamas where Australian competed in seven sports – Athletics, Beach Volleyball, Boxing, Cycling Road, Judo, Rugby 7’s and Swimming.

The team was led by Para-swimmer Matt Cowdrey and Australia finished second on the medal tally behind England, with 14 gold, 14 silver, 11 bronze for a total of 39 medals.

Previous Commonwealth Youth Games

Commonwealth Youth Games Medal Tally (Top Ten shown)

CGF President Dame Louise Martin DBE: “We are delighted to award Trinidad and Tobago the opportunity to host the 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games.

“We had a very strong bid process and the Board felt at this point in time, the Caribbean offers a fantastic platform for the Commonwealth Sports Movement to build upon.”

“We look forward to working closely with Trinidad and Tobago in the lead up to the Games in what we are confident will be a fantastic event for the aspiring young athletes of the Commonwealth.”

Brian Lewis, the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Commonwealth Games Association who led the bid team, said: “This is awesome and historic. On behalf of the youth, and young people of Trinidad and Tobago, thank you to the Commonwealth Games Federation.”

Trinidad and Tobago joined the Commonwealth in 1962. It is the most southerly of the West Indian island states and is situated 11.2kms off the Venezuelan coast. It consists of two islands, Trinidad and Tobago.

Having made their debut in the 1934 Games, Trinidad and Tobago have attended every Games since, apart from the 1950 and 1986 editions.