He suggested the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) needed to examine the requirements of hosting its events and consider the necessity of requirements made for cities and countries.

"I think they are looking at the land from their perspective, they're not looking at the land from which the hosts are looking, so they will need to be much more flexible," he told insidethegames after the Opening Ceremony. "I believe that will create an opportunity for the Commonwealth sport movement to rebuild, reimage and rethink, and that is what's going to save the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth sport movement."

Former Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee President Lewis was a key figure in the successful 2018 bid to bring the Commonwealth Youth Games to the Caribbean, narrowly beating Gibraltar to take over hosting rights for 2021 from Belfast, although that was pushed back due to COVID-19.

He very openly discussed a range of issues in Commonwealth sport. Lewis expressed his belief Trinbago 2023 could be "a defining moment" for the CGF and provide a " template" for future hosts, but that "the full significance of what Trinidad and Tobago achieved" would not be felt immediately.

The initial reaction two days on from the end of Trinbago 2023 is that it indeed provided a model of how things can be done differently, which the CGF has stressed it is open to doing in its attempts to safeguard the future of the Commonwealth Games following the threat faced by Victoria's shock cancellation of the 2026 edition.

This was a genuine example of the Games adapting to a host country rather than vice-versa, something major event organisers insist they are big on but in reality often does not bear fruit.

Nine sports featured on the programme, devised to make use of venues including the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain for athletics and Para athletics, the superb National Aquatic Centre and National Cycling Velodrome in Couva for swimming and cycling, and the Shaw Park Cultural Centre for fast5 netball. Completion of the Black Rock Facility for beach volleyball may have been tight, but it is an impressive facility now it is there.

"I think it is a really good mix of facilities. It allows you as a host city or country to use the facilities that you've got, to build one if you need it as a permanent legacy, and also if you want to upgrade," was how CGF vice-president Chris Jenkins summarised it to insidethegames.

The CGF appears to have been most satisfied with how the twin-island model worked.

"The encouragement it has given to other smaller countries is Trinidad and Tobago have got two islands, and it has been a great success," CGF President Dame Louise Martin said after the Closing Ceremony.

I have to admit, I was a little sceptical regarding how staging competition across the two islands would work in practice, but connections between Trinidad and Tobago, whether by air or ferry, ran smoothly. For the host nation, it allowed to showcase the tranquillity and beauty of Tobago alongside the hustle and bustle of Port of Spain on Trinidad.

It gave the Youth Games a very different feel, and brought its challenges regarding how the competing nations and territories split their support staff.

However, if the CGF is serious about staging its Games beyond the usual suspects in the United Kingdom and Australia - something which provides fuel to the fire of critics' argument the event is an outdated remnant of colonialism - all participants have to adapt their expectations.

Trinbago 2023 was not an event on the scale of a Gold Coast 2018 or Birmingham 2022. Logistical elements required more planning, but right the way through I always had Lewis' argument that we need to look at "the land from which the hosts are looking" in the back of my mind.

This was a Youth Games which suited Trinidad and Tobago, and provided a way forward for the CGF in terms of how it can stage a multi-location multi-sport event, even if it is reduced in scale from recent editions of the Commonwealth Games.

On a personal level, Trinbago 2023 left several lasting impressions. It began with an Opening Ceremony held at the unusual hours of 4pm to 6pm local time, which was full of noise and colour and had the added bonus of avoiding the customary late-night finish.

On the competition front, the integration of Para athletics into the Youth Games programme was commendable, and that must be a catalyst for the addition of Para competition in other sports at future editions.

Hosts Trinidad and Tobago delivered some excellent results with home advantage, not least from Nikoli Blackman who was arguably the breakout star of the Games with his three freestyle swimming gold medals. I was there for the first of those in the men's 100 metres, and the atmosphere inside the National Aquatic Centre was remarkable. The facility is most impressive, and it is easy to see why it is helping to deliver stars such as Blackman and Zarek Wilson, who won men's 100m butterfly gold.

Scotland's golden score victory against the favourite Fiji in the men's rugby sevens was an incredible sporting moment to be there to witness, and the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m relays won by Nigeria and Guyana respectively to conclude athletics were both edge-of-the-seat races.

It was a pleasure to be in Trinidad and Tobago to cover the Youth Games. The host nation put on a tremendous show for visitors, most importantly the athletes. Experiencing Trinbago's culture was a truly memorable experience and the famous doubles - a flatbread-type food filled with curried chickpeas - were one of the best dishes I have ever eaten.

Learning Port of Spain has what locals say is the world's largest roundabout was a fantastic nugget of information to take on board too.

Queen's Park Savannah perimeter is around 2.3 miles, and the open space was a hive of activity on the weekend prior to our arrival for Emancipation Day commemoration of the abolition of slavery.

There is some dispute as to whether it officially qualifies as a roundabout, but it is an honour they can be given the benefit of the doubt on.

The Commonwealth Youth Games has a long list of illustrious alumni, from Australia's Sally Pearson to England's Jessica Ennis-Hill and Northern Ireland's Carl Frampton.

Dame Louise's passion when discussing the Youth Games is immediately evident. She was a driving force behind the inaugural edition in Edinburgh in 2000. Although her second and final term is due to conclude this year, she insists "they don't need to be changed in any shape or form".

It is a valuable product for the participating nations and territories, and Trinbago 2023 provided an example of how a multi-sport event can be held to suit the host nation.

Less is indeed sometimes more, and that should be the key lesson from Trinbago 2023 for the CGF and other event organisers.