VI’s Nanjing 2014 athletes announced at Olympic Day celebrations

Olympic Day celebrations at Tortola Sports Club

Olympic Day celebrations at Tortola Sports Club. Photo: BVIOC

The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) announced the 7 athletes who will be representing the Virgin Islands at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in swimming, sailing, and athletics. The announcement and a special presentation of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Participant’s Pin were part of Olympic Day celebrations hosted at the Tortola Sports Club on Saturday, June 21.

In his remarks Mr. Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC, said, “2014 is a busy year for the BVIOC. In addition to the Sochi 2014 Winter Games that took place in February, there are no less than 4 global games and competitions coming up in which the Virgin Islands expects to participate. These include the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games which take place July 23 – August 3 in Scotland, the Nanjing 2014 Summer Youth Olympic Games which take place August 16 – 28 in China, and the Vera Cruz 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games which take place November 14 – 30 in Mexico. We then have the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, Canada and the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games which will take place that summer in Brazil.”

“It is an exciting period for the BVIOC Executive board as we continue to see up and coming young athletes make the mark and join the roll call of competitors who have represented the Virgin Islands at major games,” added Penn.

The Nanjing 2014 competitors from athletics include sprinter, Nelda Huggins; 100m hurdler, Deya Erickson; Long Jumper, Kala Penn; 400m intermediate hurdler, Kyron McMaster; and triple jumper, Akeem Bradshaw who all qualified for the second Youth Olympic Games during the 2014 Carifta Games held in April in Martinique.

Sam Morrell will be representing the Virgin Islands in sailing following his success in the 2014 Byte CII North American Championships to become the first VI sailor to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games.

In another first for the VI, Amarah Phillips will be competing in swimming.

Chef de Mission for Nanjing 2014, Mrs. Stephanie Russ-Penn, who announced the athletes said: “These kids will get the opportunity not just to go and compete, but they will have an opportunity to develop themselves because these games are nothing like any other games. It’s completely designed to give them both a cultural, educational, as well as competitive experience.”

Mr. Lloyd Black, Secretary General for the BVIOC, reiterated Stephanie’s remarks by recognising the hard work, diligence and perseverance of the athletes required to make the qualifying marks.

The programme of events continued with the presentation of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Participant’s Pin to Peter Adam Crook, the VI’s half- pipe skier. Mr. Paul Hewlett, Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, representing the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports presented the pin to Adam.

Mr. Rey O’Neal, Past President of the BVIOC provided an overview of the Olympic history of the VI which had made its Olympic debut with speed skater, Errol Canute Fraser in the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Games. Adam is the territory’s second Winter Olympian.

Drawing events to a close, Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC read out the Olympic Day message from Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee. He then invited the gathering of over 90 participants of all ages to join in the symbolic Olympic Day run through Road Town before returning to the sports club to collect their Certificate of Participation.

The afternoon set up at the sports club included information desks run by the National Federations for Swimming, Sailing, and Athletics, and the VI branch of the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO).

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and Lifeline BVI, a privately owned, ambulance and EMT service, ensured the safety of the runners and walkers. Roadtown Wholesale distributed Dasani water and Powerade to participants along the route and at the sports club. Ice and coolers were provided by MBs Ice.

Cleave Farrington, Executive Director of the BVIOC and lead, event organizer, acknowledged several individuals from the community who had volunteered their time to assist with the set up, registration, and marshaling of the event.

Earlier in the day, an Olympic Day run was held in the Valley, Virgin Gorda while the BVI Tri Federation held a children’s triathlon event at Smuggler’s Cove, Tortola.

Olympic Day Message – IOC President, Thomas Bach

Today, people all over the world are celebrating Olympic Day. I am pleased to have this chance to greet you. Because today, together,we are sharing a success story. Like you, millions of other people in their own countries are taking part, regardless of age, sex or sporting ability.

On this day, we remember the creation of our modern Olympic Movement. We are demonstrating the Olympic values of friendship, excellence and respect. For this reason, today is not just about having fun through sport and physical activity. Olympic Day is more than that.

We invite everyone, everywhere, “to move, to learn and to discover”—through sport and beyond sport. It is especially good to see more and more young people taking part. Make full use of all the sporting and cultural opportunities in your community and neighbourhood. Invite other people to join in.

Because that is what is so special about Olympic Day: It doesn’t really matter how you celebrate it, so long as more and more people get to move, learn and discover. That way, we can all help to make our future a better place to live. That is the Olympic ideal.

I wish you all a happy Olympic Day 2014!

Peter Adam Crook joins list of BVI Olympians after competing in Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games

1658411_10154013247640001_8806930_oPeter Adam Crook joins the ranks of BVI Olympians after competing in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic freestyle halfpipe ski event on Tuesday, February 18.

Adam competed for the BVI in the qualifier runs in the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park halfpipe. Conditions were tough with many competitors struggling to gain balance following their air borne tricks. Adam’s false landings at the end of his two qualifier runs resulted in scores of 24.20 and 25.20 out of a possible 100 based on the six judges’ combined marks on overall impression. [Read more…]

Get clued up on the halfpipe ski event at Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games

Peter Adam Crook completing a Switch 7 Blunt during halfpipe practice run at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, Sochi 2014

Peter Adam Crook completing a Switch 7 Blunt during halfpipe practice run at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park, Sochi 2014

BVI competitor, Adam Crook’s on-site practice for the freestyle halfpipe ski event at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games began on Friday, February 14. Adam took in several runs in the halfpipe at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park and came away happy to have started the sessions in the run up to the competition on Tuesday, February 18.

The freestyle halfpipe ski event starts at 9.45am AST (BVI time) and will be shown live at Captain Mulligan’s, Nanny Cay. Highlights are expected to be broadcast in the evening on NBC and SportsMax channels and viewers are advised to contact their service providers for information on timing and channels.

[Read more…]

BVI’s Peter Adam Crook to compete on February 18 at Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games

IMG_3919On Tuesday February 18, freestyle halfpipe skier, Peter Adam Crook, representing the British Virgin Islands at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games will have his first taste of action in the mountain resort of Rosa Khutor, Sochi, Russia.  The men’s ski halfpipe qualifiers and finals will take place from 9.45am AST to 1.30pm AST.  [Read more…]

The BVI at Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games

Adam[1]The time has come for Peter Adam Crook, the British Virgin Islands competitor in the free style, half-pipe event, to represent the territory in the Winter games. Adam will be the proud flag bearer for the BVI at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games opening ceremony on February 7 at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in the Olympic Park. The qualifier and finals of the ski half pipe competition will take place from 8.30am to 12.30pm AST on February 18 in the Rosa Khutor Extreme park. [Read more…]

Go BVI! Sochi 2014

Show your support for Peter Adam Crook at Sochi 2014.  Download the images and post on your facebook or Google + page!

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Exhibition highlights VI’s sports for Sochi 2014 and Glasgow 2014

BVI's half-pipe skier for Winter Olympic Fames Sochi 2014, Peter Adam Crook answers questions at the BVIOC's multi sport exhibition

BVI’s half-pipe skier for Winter Olympic Fames Sochi 2014, Peter Adam Crook answers questions at the BVIOC’s multi sport exhibition

The BVI Ski Association, the BVI Athletics Association, the BVI Swimming Association, and the BVI Squash Rackets Association presented their respective sports to a rapt audience at an interactive exhibition hosted by the BVI Olympic Committee at the Tortola Sports Club last Saturday. The morning event highlighted the upcoming Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014, and the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in which qualified athletes will represent the Virgin Islands.

Peter Adam Crook (Adam), who earlier last week was officially presented as the territory’s half-pipe skier for Sochi 2014, and Joe Chapman, squash player for the VI in Glasgow 2014 presented their respective sports in the glass-fronted squash courts to a public that previously had very little exposure to either half-pipe skiing or squash.
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Crook confirmed to represent VI at Winter Olympics

By: Charlie Jackson

(l-r) BVIOC executive officer, Cleave Farrington, BVI Ski Association president, Barny Crook, BVIOC president, Ephraim Penn, the [British] Virgin Islands' newest Olympian, Peter Adam Crook,  and BVIOC secretary general, Lloyd Black.

(l-r) BVIOC executive officer, Cleave Farrington, BVI Ski Association president, Barny Crook, BVIOC president, Ephraim Penn, the [British] Virgin Islands’ newest Olympian, Peter Adam Crook, and BVIOC secretary general, Lloyd Black.

Peter Adam Crook was confirmed on October 22, as just the second athlete from the [British] Virgin Islands to take part in a Winter Olympics, when he heads to Sochi, Russia, 2014.

Crook, who was born in the Territory, will be just 21 when he takes to the slopes in his favoured event, the Half Pipe, at the Sochi Games. In doing so, he will be joining the late Speed Skater Errol Frazer, as a Winter Olympian.

Ephraim Penn, the BVI Olympic Committee president, welcomed Crook to the fold of Olympians acknowledging that Crook had worked hard to achieve his goal and had the full support of the BVIOC.
[Read more…]

VI heading to Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014 and XX Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014

BVIOC to launch awareness campaign at interactive, multi-sports exhibition

BVIOC PosterThe Virgin Islands will be represented in the half-pipe ski event at the Winter Olympic Games Sochi 2014, and in squash, swimming, and athletics at the XX Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014. In April 2014, the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay will be in the VI.

The BVI Olympic Committee in collaboration with the BVI Athletics Association, the BVI Ski Association, the BVI Squash Racquets Association, and the BVI Swimming Association will host a free, interactive, multi-sports exhibition at the Tortola Sports Club on Saturday, October 26, 2014 from 8.30am – 12.00pm to showcase these international games, the sports, and some of the athletes who will be representing the VI.

[Read more…]

Peter Adam Crook Place 2nd at The North Face Park and Pipe Open Series (Video)