He disclosed that TTOC had already approved a contingent of 130 athletes and 26 officials for the Games, which is due within the next three months.

Asked whether the sponsorship was sufficient, Romany noted the value of a “partnership” with a firm with which it had much in common, such as community-based development programmes.

BHP Billiton sponsors sports and cultural activities in Mayaro.

TTOC’s Intergenerational Games was launched in Mayaro last September.

Romany expressed hope of a lasting relationship that may go beyond the Commonwealth Games, “depending on our performance”.

“The funds would go a long way to help us prepare,” he said.

It is costing the Olympic body $15,000 per head in airfare. That would amount to $2,340,000, not including accommodation, meals, etc.,” he stated.

“What is certain is that no athlete would have to pay,” he said, referring to the age-old tradition of affiliated national sporting organisations passing the buck to individual athletes when asked to meet any shortfall in TTOC funding.

The Commonwealth Games is due March 15-26 in Melbourne, Australia.

BHP’s sponsorship is part of an offer by the Games’ organising committee to support 10 countries.

An additional 156,000 will be spent on developing sporting programmes for young athletes in Mayaro, Guayaguayare and Toco, where the company operates.

BHP president Vincent Pereira called the sponsorship, “a tremendous decision, which will assist both the team and future athletes from the communities in which we operate in TnT”.

He said that with BHP’s headquarters being located in Melbourne the gesture was “a wonderful show of support for a games with a long and respected tradition”.

Australia’s High Commissioner to TnT John Michell invited entre-preneurs to visit his country’s businesclubaustralia.com website.