General Notices

The UWI has partnered with NGC to host A Commemorative Exhibition: Hasely Crawford – National Hero.

The exhibition will feature highlights from Crawford’s early years, his athletic career, his work with NGC and his community outreach initiatives. Memorabilia and artwork from Crawford’s own collection will be on display as well.

Be there as the living legend himself, Hasely Crawford will be at the exhibition on August 16 from 10am to noon and August 18 from 10am to noon at the Alma Jordan Library, Undergraduate Reading Room. All are invited.

The Hasely Crawford Commemorative Exhibition will run from July 25 to August 18 during the following dates and times: Weekdays | 9am to 4pm; Saturdays | 9am to noon. 

For more information about the exhibition, Hasely, NGC and The UWI Libraries, please click here. 

About Hasely Crawford

In 1976, Hasely Crawford won the gold medal in the men’s 100-metre race at the Montreal Olympics. It was Trinidad and Tobago’s first Olympic gold medal, and he remained Trinidad and Tobago’s lone Olympic gold medallist for 36 years.

Hasely Crawford, T.C., was born on August 16, 1950, in San Fernando. In the schoolyard at San Fernando Boys’ Government School and in his neighborhood, he discovered his gift for running; beating all challengers.

He went on to study at the ASJA Boys’ College and then the San Fernando Technical Institute, where he earned the qualifications to be accepted as a special apprentice by the Texaco Oil Company.

Throughout these years, his running career gained momentum. In 1970, he placed fifth at the Central American and Caribbean Games, and third at the Commonwealth Games. His talent soon earned him an athletics scholarship to Eastern Michigan University in the USA.

Hasely has won many accolades, including the nation’s highest award, the Trinity Cross in 1976, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Athlete of the Millennium in 2000. In 1996, Trinidad and Tobago’s National Stadium was officially renamed the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

As Head of Community Relations at the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC), Hasely has been tireless in supporting several national sporting, training and cultural programmes. He was instrumental in the conceptualization of NGC’s ‘Right on Track Programme,’ used to teach the fundamentals of track and field to young people throughout Trinidad and Tobago. This programme was later introduced to Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia and Dominica.

Hasely did not only bring gold to the nation in 1976, but for more than 40 years, his developmental work has demonstrated that he is truly a champion worth his weight in gold.