By: Dean Greenaway
As a follow up to its inaugural Kiddies Athletics Camp held in Capoons Bay during the summer, the BVI Athletics Association will hold a similar camp at the Greenland Recreation Grounds, December 16-21.
The camp which costs $35 and runs from 5-6:30 p.m., targets children 4-14 years notes association Vice President Steve Augustine an IAAF Certified course instructor who is spearheading the program. Children can be dropped off at 4:45 p.m. and collected by 6:45 p.m.
“We are looking at introducing the children to the different aspects of athletics,” Augustine said. “We have age appropriate hurdles, javelins shot puts—just about anything you can name in athletics—we have the materials for the kids to use. What we will be doing is introducing the kids to the different events, with the hope of making them more comfortable in participating in some of the more uncommon events.”
Augustine said by hosting the camp, they are looking at identifying and developing talent as there’s a great talent pool in the BVI. He said they figured that if they get out to where children are—Capoons Bay in the first instance and now Greenland and another location during summer 2014—new talent will be found.
“This will definitely be a fun event, there’s no ifs ands or buts about it,” Augustine assured. “Ask anyone who participated in the event in Capoons Bay how great it was. At the culmination of the event, we had a track meet where all the kids participated in the events. Parents came out and the community on a whole came out and supported the event.”
A relay challenge was thrown out to persons in the area and Augustine said there was good community participation. He noted that there are a number of good athletes in the East End and Long Look communities—although the event is opened to kids from other communities—its all about having fun. Another relay challenge will be thrown out to community members in the area he said.
“What we simply want to do is to ensure the comfort level of the kids are raised, therefore we can get more people from the BVI participating in uncommon events,” he stated. “So, we are looking at doing something good in the East End and Long Look area and it’s definitely something good to come out and see. If you have a child between 4 and 14 years, I encourage you to definitely bring them out and I guarantee you they will enjoy every minute of the program.”
Further information and registration forms can be obtained by calling Augustine at 496-7529 or BVI Athletics Association General Secretary Delva Thomas at 443-8262.
