BVI Olympic Committee

Caribbean RADO Gets New Chairman, Directors

June 4, 2019 by Sofia Fay

Caribbean RADO Executive Committee members 2019 — Newly elected Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) Executive Committee members (l-r) Director, Mr. Ephraim Penn (British Virgin Islands), Vice-President, Dr. Adrian Lorde (Barbados), Chairman, Mr. Patrick Werleman (Aruba), Director, Dr. Karen Pilgrim (Guyana), Director, Mr. Joel Johnson (Grenada) pose at the close of the 14th Annual Board Meeting held in the BVI from June 1 – 2, 2019.

Patrick Werleman is the new Chairman of the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO).

Werleman, the Board Member representative for Aruba, has been elected to serve for the next term following the 14th Annual Board Meeting in Tortola, British Virgin Islands on Sunday, June 2nd 2019.

Werleman who is also Director of Sports Development of the Aruban Olympic Committee and President of the Aruba Anti-Doping Commission says compliance with World Anti-Doping Code will be one of his major priorities for Caribbean RADO member countries.

“Even though there is a new chair and there are new Directors, the organization will continue to move forward and we need everybody to be on board. We need to communicate better, giving more physical and technical support to Board Members. A lot of members are still not compliant, so we really need to work towards addressing that. We need to press a little harder to have everyone compliant with the Code. I think that is the most important priority we have now right.”

Outgoing Chairman Dr Adrian Lorde, who did not seek re-election, thanked the body for the confidence placed in him since he took up the helm in 2005.

Dr. Lorde, who is the Board representative for member country Barbados, will still serve on the Executive Committee, having been elected as its new Vice President – a role in which he is pleased to contribute.

“As the World Conference is coming up in November in Poland with a new Code coming into being in 2021, there will be a need for expert leadership in the region to guide our countries further forward and to keep them compliant. The new Chair Patrick Werleman has made tremendous strides in the time he has been involved, and I think the Caribbean RADO is in very good hands.”

Werleman and Lorde will be joined by directors Dr. Karen Pilgrim (Guyana) who previously served in this role, along with newcomers Joel Johnson (Grenada) and Ephraim Penn (British Virgin Islands).

“It’s an honour to be elected as a director on the new Caribbean RADO Executive Board. I recognise that there is a lot to be done in the promotion of clean sports in the region and I look forward to pursuing this with the new team going forward,” said Penn, Director Caribbean RADO, BVI Board Member, Chairman BVI Anti-Doping Commission and President of the BVI Olympic Committee.

The two-day AGM was hosted by the BVI Olympic Committee and included a welcome reception hosted by the Ministry of Education and Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports. It was the first time the BVI hosted the board meeting since joining Caribbean RADO in 2012. Representatives of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) and Caribbean RADO board members from 17 countries were in attendance.

Curacao will host the 2020 Caribbean RADO, where the organization will celebrate its 15th anniversary.

VI sailors make news – Thad Lettsome selected for Lima 2019 PanAm Games

April 18, 2019 by Admin

By Royal BVI Yacht Club

2019 PanAm Games
Thad Lettsome will be representing the Virgin Islands (UK) in the Men’s Laser event at this year’s Pan American Games in Peru. The territory’s #1 Laser sailor has been awarded a Universality Place by the organizing committee and will be traveling to the prestigious event in July this year.

The BVI has not been represented in the sailing events at the PanAm Games since the 1990s.

RWU Hall of Fame
BVI Sailor, Alec Anderson, has been inducted into the Roger Williams University Hall of Fame. Anderson was a four-year member of the RWU Sailing team, ending his career as one of the most accomplished sailors in program history. He was a three-time ICSA All-American Coed Skipper and a three-time All-NEISA First Team Skipper. Congratulations Alec!

Charleston Race Week
Colin Rathbun, Christian Thompson, Ted Reshetiloff and Max Reshetiloff representing the BVI raced in the Flying Tiger 7.5 class with Andrew Kerr at the 2019 Sperry Charleston Race Week. The Team finished 1st overall with four wins in the 9 race series and never finishing lower than third in any race. Congratulations Team BVI!

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Lima 2019, PanAM Games, Sailing Tagged With: BVI Sailing, Lima 2019, PanAm Games, Royal BVI Yacht Club, Thad Lettsome

Panam Sport Development Commission meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica

April 17, 2019 by Admin

Ashley Kelly, Athlete Representative, Panam Sport Commission Board and BVI Senior Athlete (400m & 200m) reports on first meeting of the year

My birthday, March 25th, was a day filled with exciting experiences. I was fortunate to travel to San Jose, Costa Rica for the Sports Development Commission meeting, the first meeting of the year, and my second attendance since I was named an Athlete Representative for the Panam Sport Commission board. I arrived in San Jose, Costa Rica at 1:00pm in the afternoon, and by 4:30pm I was in my first meeting. There was no time to be wasted as we were only in Costa Rica for less than 48 hours.

Finalizing the Tokyo 2020 Development Camp was on the agenda this year. The Camp is designed to help athletes who qualify for the Tokyo Games travel to Japan up to ten days before the opening of the Village and use Olympic standard facilities.

The Camp will provide an opportunity for smaller countries with low funding to send their qualified athletes over to Tokyo early so they can become acclimated with the time zone change and ensure that the athlete has every opportunity to perform optimally during the competition. The intent of the Camp is to help level the playing field in competing against much larger countries with funding for elite facilities.

Since the Virgin Islands’ average attendance at the Games is about 4-5 athletes, the territory is eligible to take advantage of the initiative and attend a prearranged camp before Tokyo 2020.

Sport Development
As an Athlete Representative, I have the opportunity to sit in on all the Sport Development meetings and provide useful subjective insight into situations that many executives look at objectively. Organizations have to pay careful attention to their “bottom line,” and make strategic decisions, but it is vital to take into account an athlete’s point of view because these decisions directly impact us athletes and our ability to prepare, train and compete in major games.

The trip wasn’t all work and no play; it concluded with a beautiful dinner at Costa Rica Olympic Committee’s property. The Costa Rica OC’s property was a gorgeous estate once owned by a Costa Rican drug lord, seized by the government and given to the Costa Rica OC to use for offices, an event hall, weight lifting facility, and open grassland.

My own President of the BVIOC, Mr. Ephraim Penn, joined me at dinner. I recently learned that he is also a member of the Panam Sports Commission for New Events which is currently working on the inaugural meeting of the Panam Junior Games in Cali, Columbia in 2023.

I traveled out to Miami at 6 am the next morning and resumed training for the opening of my upcoming season, energized by the brief but enlightening trip.

Being a member of the Panam Sports Athlete Commission is an honor, and I am elated with the opportunity each time I get an assignment or correspondence from the Board. Through this experience I’ve made new relationships with sports executives, I’ve learned a great deal about the business of sport, behind the scenes of the events we athletes compete at, and the numerous strategic decisions made to further opportunities for athletes to compete in the Panam region.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Panam Sports Tagged With: Ashley Kelly, BVI Olympic Committee, PanAm Sports, Panam Sports Development Commission

Panam Sports considers bids from host cities for inaugural Junior Panam Games planned for 2021.

February 26, 2019 by Sofia Fay

Mexico City, February 26, 2019 – After a thorough review of the proposals, Panam Sports leaders feel confident that the inaugural edition of the Junior Pan American Games to be held in 2021 for athletes ages 18-23 can be quite successful.

Concluding a week of inspecting plans and proposals for the first edition of the Games, the Panam Sports Evaluation Commission are excited about the possibilities presented by the candidatures of Cali, Colombia and Santa Ana, El Salvador as potential host cities of the event along with Monterrey, Mexico.

“The summary of our visits is very positive. What we found in Cali is a very solid candidature that’s well structured with very complete infrastructure. And what we’ve found in El Salvador is a group that’s very enthusiastic with the support of the city and the support of the Olympic Committee, and a desire to transform Santa Ana through hosting the Junior Pan American Games. We are impressed with both candidatures and still look forward to reviewing the project from Monterrey in more detail, but I can say that that we have chosen competitive cities as the potential hosts of these first Junior Pan American Games in history,” said Ivar Sisniega, Panam Sports Secretary General and Chairman of the Evaluation Commission.

Panam Sports created these Games after identifying a substantial gap in the opportunities available for athletes in this age category to develop and compete at a world-class level once they are ineligible for Youth sporting events.

The Junior Pan Am Games aim to eliminate this gap and increase the likelihood of additional government funding by providing a high-performance multi sport event for the young athletes of all 41 countries in the Panam Sports family. The goal is for the Junior Pan Am Games to also provide direct qualification to the next Pan American Games, ensuring consistent opportunities to further develop as an athlete.

The 10 members of the Panam Sports Evaluation Commission visited Cali and Santa Ana consecutively from February 18 to 22, while an inspection visit to Monterrey is planned in March.

After thoroughly reviewing all three proposals for the Games, the Panam Sports Executive Committee will choose the Host City of the 2021 Junior Pan American Games at its meeting scheduled for March 27 to 28 in San Jose, Costa Rica.

: The Panam Sports Evaluation Commission concludes its inspection of Cali, Colombia one of the 3 Candidate Cities for the first Junior Pan American Games in history to be held in 2021.

: The Panam Sports Evaluation Commission concludes its inspection of Santa Ana, El Salvador, one of the three Candidate Cities for the first Junior Pan American Games in history to be held in 2021.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Panam Sports Tagged With: Junior Pan Am Games 2021, PanAm Sports

French windsurf Olympic gold medalist sailing through the VI

February 5, 2019 by Sofia Fay

Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee presents French windsurf Olympic gold medalist, Charline Picon with a commemorative pin during her first visit to the Virgin Islands. Photo: CM Farrington/BVIOC

Members of the BVI Olympic Committee executive were invited by the BVI Tourist Board to join them today in welcoming Olympian Charline Picon, a French windsurfer who specializes in Neil Pryde RS:X class.

Extending a courtesy to a visiting Olympian, BVIOC President, Ephraim Penn presented Ms. Picon and her entourage with national Olympic Committee pins to commemorate their first visit to the Virgin Islands.

Traveling with her young daughter, family and friends, Ms. Picon will be cruising the islands aboard a Sunsail yacht following which, Ms. Picon will be visiting the Youth Empowerment Project located in East End/Long Look on February 14th. Interacting with the YEP members enrolled in the kite surfing program being offered at YEP, Ms. Picon will be engaged in teaching the children the rudiments of windsurfing in exchange for kite surfing guidance from the youth.

Ms. Picon most recently competed in the HEMPEL World Cup Series – Round 2, Miami USA last month where she took the silver. She also placed 2nd in the 2018 Hempel Sailing World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark,

Ms. Picon has captured two bronze medals in her respective class at the Windsurfing World Championships, and a gold medal to earn her an olympic title at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio after attaining a top ten finish at the 2012 Summer Olympics. As of September 2014, Picon is ranked as one of the top ten sailors in the world for the sailboard class by the International Sailing Federation, following her successes at the European and World Championships and at the Sailing World Cup series*

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charline_Picon

: Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee with French windsurf Olympic gold medalist, Charline Picon during her first visit to the Virgin Islands. Photo: CM Farrington/BVIOC

: French windsurf Olympic gold medalist, Charline Picon with Eprhaim Penn, President of the BVIOC and Keith Dawson Public Relations Manager for the BVI Tourist Board during her first visit to the Virgin Islands. Photo: CM Farrington/BVIOC

: French windsurf Olympic gold medalist, Charline Picon takes a selfie with the BVI welcoming delegation during her first visit to the Virgin Islands. Photo: CM Farrington/BVIOC

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee Tagged With: BVI Olympic Committee, BVI Tourist Board, Charline Picon, Olympian

Repairs to Mondo track at A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds underway

January 21, 2019 by Sofia Fay

The resurfacing material for the track, supplied by Mondo USA, was purchased by the BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) with funds secured from PanAm Sports. The Recovery and Development Agency, in consultation with the BVIOC, the BVI Athletic Association, the Ministry of Education and Culture (with responsibility for Sports), and the Recreational Trust, is overseeing the rebuild of the facilities including the track.

Rehabilitation works on the track at the A.O. Shirley Recreational Grounds has commenced and is expected to continue for approximately four weeks.

The Grounds’ facilities suffered damage as a result of the passage of Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The resurfacing material for the track, supplied by Mondo USA, was purchased by the BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) with funds secured from PanAm Sports. The Recovery and Development Agency, in consultation with the BVIOC, the BVI Athletic Association, the Ministry of Education and Culture (with responsibility for Sports), and the Recreational Trust, is overseeing the rebuild of the A.O. Shirley Grounds including the bidding process and engagement of contractors for the installation and repairs to the facilities.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Education and Culture, Dr. Marcia Potter has expressed satisfaction with the commencement of reconstruction of the track at the grounds and is cautioning the public about its use during this time.

Dr. Potter said, “I am indeed happy to see the commencement of this project. Our athletes will once again be able to practice and develop their skills in a space that is conducive to do so. During this time of reconstruction, however, the A. O. Shirley Grounds will not be open for use by anyone. This precautionary measure is to ensure the safety of the public and the ease in carrying out the works that will result in an improved track.”

The Grounds will be cordoned off so as not to be used as a thoroughfare in order for the track to be protected so the repair works can be effective. Trainers, athletes and other persons as asked to refrain from using the recreation grounds while the works are being carried out.

Once completed the refurbished track will once again be suitable for training and recreation, and be of the standard to host regional and international competition.

The A.O. Shirley Recreational Grounds facilitates training to a wide cross section of athletes including track and field, shotput, long jump, soccer and rugby, and for recreational activities. It is part of the Ministry of Education and Culture’s portfolio under the Recreation Trust.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee Tagged With: A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds, BVI Olympic Committee, Mondo USA, PanAm Sports

BVIOC President attends 23rd ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo, Japan

November 28, 2018 by Sofia Fay

Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee is one of the 1,400 delegates attending the XXIII ANOC General Assembly in Tokyo, Japan from November 28 – 29, 2018.

Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee is one of the 1,400 delegates currently attending the XXIII ANOC (Association of National Olympic Committees) General Assembly in Tokyo, Japan which takes place November 28 – 29, 2018.

Panam Sports President Neven Ilic will assume the Vice Presidency of the global organization by replacing Julio Maglione of Uruguay.

The three new members of the ANOC Executive Council from the Americas who were elected at the Panam Sports General Assembly in Lima, Peru in September – Camilo Perez, Tricia Smith and Keith Joseph – will also be attending their first ANOC Assembly in their new leadership positions.

Tokyo, the host city of the general assembly, is the location of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games and IOC President Thomas Bach was welcomed by Yoshiro Mori, President of the Organising Committee Tokyo 2020, at the Tokyo 2020 headquarters earlier today.

Speaking to more than 200 members of the Tokyo 2020 team, President Bach told them how impressed he was by the progress he had seen in the preparations: “I cannot remember any Olympic city being so advanced as Tokyo is, two years before the Games.”

Ephraim Penn, (inside right) paid a visit to the British Embassy in Tokyo, Japan during his trip for the 23rd ANOC General Assembly, November 28 – 29, 2018.

Mr. Penn, who arrived in the “Land of the Rising Sun” on Sunday, November 25, also took time to pay a visit to the British Embassy in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, President of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic, and Secretary General, Ivar Sisniega were invited to the city of Tachikawa to visit its spectacular sports facilities that are located just 35 kilometers from the Japanese capital of Tokyo. While there, Ilic and Sisniega signed an important cooperation agreement between Tachihi Holdings Co. and Panam Sports for the realization of a Training Camp prior to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.

The main objective of this camp is to allow more than 300 athletes from the Americas who have qualified to the Olympics to train and prepare in Japan before the Opening Ceremony of the most important multisport event in the world.

The top athletes of the Americas will be able to acclimate to the conditions of the Olympic host city as they train and prepare for several days in advance of their Olympic competitions. The athletes will also learn and share experiences with athletes of Japan as well as the citizens of Tachikawa.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Tokyo 2020 Tagged With: BVI Olympic Committee, Ephraim Penn, PanAm Sports, Thomas Bach, XXIII ANOC General Assembly

The “Other” Olympic Medalists From The Caribbean

November 27, 2018 by Sofia Fay

Reynold S. “Rey” O’Neal, OBE

By Rey O’Neal

The first Olympic athlete from the Caribbean to win an Olympic medal while representing his own country was the Haitian long jumper, Silvio Cator, who won a silver at the 1928 Games.

However the British sprinter, Harry Edward, who was born in British Guiana – now Guyana – had mounted the victory stand twice in 1920, winning bronze medals in both the 100 and 200 metre dashes. He would be followed eight years later by another Guyanese sprinter, Jack London, who won a silver medal in the 100 metres and a bronze in the 4×100 metre relay for Great Britain.

The list of athletes from the Caribbean who have won Olympic medals while representing other countries includes:

Athletics

100m (Men)
Harry Edward (GBR/GUY) -Bronze 1920
Jack London (GBR/GUY) – Silver 1928
McDonald Bailey (GBR/TRI) – Bronze 1952
Ben Johnson (CAN/’JAM) – Bronze 1984
Linford Christie (GBR/JAM) – Silver 1988*
Linford Christie (GBR/JAM) – Gold 1992
Donovan Bailey (CAN/JAM) – Gold 1996

*Ben Johnson won the event in 1988.Later disqualified for doping violation. Christie was upgraded from bronze to silver medal status.

200m (Men)
Harry Edward (GBR/GUY) – Bronze 1920

800m (Men)
Phil Edwards (CAN/GUY) – Bronze 1932
Phil Edwards (CAN/GUY) – Bronze 1936

1500m (Men)
Phil Edwards(CAN/GUY)- Bronze 1932

110m Hurdles (Men)
Mark McKoy (CAN/GUY) – Gold 1992
Orlando Ortega (ESP/CUB) – Silver 201
Dimitri Bascou (FRA/MRT)- Bronze 2016

400m Hurdles (Men)
Kerron Clement (USA/TTO) – Gold 2016
Yasmani Copello (TUR/CUB) – Bronze 2016

High Jump (Men)
Germaine Mason (GBR/JAM) – Silver 2008

Triple Jump (Men)
Keith Connor (GBR/AIA) – Bronze 1984

4x100m Relay (Men)
Jack London (GBR/ GUY) – Bronze 1928
Roger Bambuck (FRA/GDL) – Bronze 1968
Hermann Panzo (FRA/MRT) – Bronze 1980
Ben Johnson (CAN/JAM) – Bronze 1984
Tony Sharpe (CAN/JAM) – Bronze 1984
Desai Williams (CAN/SKN) – Bronze 1984
Max Moriniere (FRA/MRT) – Bronze 1988
Robert Esmie (CAN/JAM) – Gold 1996
Glenroy Gilbert (CAN/TRI) – Gold 1996
Bruny Surin (CAN/HAI) – Gold 1996

4x400m Relay (Men)
Phil Edwards (CAN/GUY) – Bronze 1932
Roger Velasquez (FRA/GDL) – Bronze 1972

200m (Women)
Marie-Jose Perec (FRA/GDL) – Gold 1996

400m (Women)
Marie-Jose Perec (FRA/GDL) – Gold 1992
Marie-Jose Perec (FRA/GDL) – Gold 1996
Sanya Richards (USA/JAM) – Bronze 2008
Sanya Richards (USA/JAM) – Gold 2012

100m Hurdles (Women)
Patricia Girard (FRA/GDL) – Bronze 1996

400m Hurdles (Women)
Sandra Farmer-Patrick (USA/JAM) – Silver 1992

Javelin Throw (Women)
Tessa Sanderson (GBR/JAM) – Gold 1984

4x100m Relay (Women)
Beverly Goddard (GBR/BAR) – Bronze 1980
Marita Payne (CAN/BAR) – Silver 1984
Angella Taylor (CAN/JAM) – Silver 1984
Beverly (Goddard) Callender (GBR/BAR) – Bronze 1984
Christine Arron (FRA/GDL) – Bronze 2000 +
Sandra Citte (FRA/GDL) – Bronze 2000 (ran heats but not final and upgraded from fourth place after disqualification of the third-place USA team retroactively owing to a doping infraction).
Christine Arron(FRA/GDL) –Bronze 2004

4x400m Relay (Women)
Joslyn Hoyte-Smith (GBR/BAR) – Bronze 1980
Charmaine Crooks (CAN/JAM) – Silver 1984
Jillian Richardson (CAN/TRI) – Silver 1984
Molly Killingbeck (CAN/JAM) – Silver 1984
Marita Payne (CAN/BAR) – Silver 1984
Sanya Richards (USA/JAM) – Gold 2004
Sanya Richards (USA/JAM) – Gold 2008
Sanya Richards (USA/JAM) – Gold 2012

Boxing Medalists
Jose “Chegui” Torres (USA/PUR) – Junior Middleweight – Silver 1956

Basketball (Men)
Patrick Ewing (USA/JAM) – Gold 1984
Patrick Ewing (USA/JAM) – Gold 1992

Fencing (Men)
Fabrice Jeannet (FRA/MRT) – Individual Epee – Silver 2008
Fabrice Jeannet (FRA/MRT) – Team Epee – Gold 2004
Jerome Jeannet (FRA/MRT) – Team Epee – Gold 2004
Fabrice Jeannet (FRA/MRT) – Team Epee – Gold 2008
Jerome Jeannet (FRA/MRT) – Team Epee – Gold 2008
Jean-Michel Lucenay (FRA/MRT) – Team Epee – Gold 2008
Ulrich Robeiri (FRA/GNE) – Team Epee – Gold 2008
Jean-Michel Lucenay (FRA/MRT) – Team Epee – Gold 2016
Daniel Jerent (FRA/GDL) – Team Epee – Gold 2016
Yannick Borel (FRA/ GDL) – Team Epee – Gold 2016

Fencing (Women)
Laura Flessel (FRA/GDL) – Individual Epee – Gold 1996
Laura Flessel (FRA/GDL) – Individual Epee – Bronze 2000
Laura Flessel-Colovic (FRA/GDL) – Individual Epee – Silver 2004
Maureen Nisima (FRA/MRT) – Individual Epee – Bronze 2004
Laura Flessel (FRA/GDL) – Team Epee – Gold 1996
Sarah Daninthe (FRA/GDL) – Team Epee – Bronze 2004
Laura Flessel-Colovic (FRA/GDL) – Team Epee – Bronze 2004
Maureen Nisima (FRA/MRT) – Team Epee – Bronze 2004

*Laura Flessel has won more Olympic medals than any other fencer in history.

Judo (Men)
Teddy Riner (FRA/GDL) – 100 kg Class – Bronze 2008
Teddy Riner (FRA/GDL) -100 kg Class – Gold 2012
Teddy Riner (FRA/GDL) – 100kg Class – Gold 2016

Swimming (Women)
Enith Brigitha (NED/AHO) – 200m Freestyle – Bronze 1976
Enith Brigitha (NED/AHO) – 100m Freestyle – Bronze 1976
Malia Metella (FRA/GNE) – 50m Freestyle – Silver 2004

Tennis (Women)
Gigi Fernandez (USA/PUR) – Women’s Doubles – 1992
Gigi Fernandez(USA/PUR) – Women’s Doubles-1996

Weightlifting (Men)
Louis Martin (GBR/JAM) – Middle Heavyweight – Bronze 1960
Louis Martin (GBR/JAM) – Middle Heavyweight – Silver 2004

Notes:
Guadeloupe: GDL
Martinique: MRT
French Guiana (Cayenne): GNE
Anguilla: AIA
Netherlands Antilles: AHO
Puerto Rico: PUR

Jesse Vassallo (USA/PUR) finished 4th in the 200m Individual Medley in swimming at the 1984 Games but subsequently set world records in that event and in the 400 metre Individual Medley.

Coralie Balmy (FRA/MRT) finished fourth in the 400m Freestyle swimming event at the 2008 Games. She later set a world record in the 200m Freestyle.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee Tagged With: Ben Johnson, Caribbean athletes, Caribbean Olympians, Caribbean Olympic Medalist, Kerron Clement, Linford Christie, Rey O'Neal

BVI Women’s Team Undefeated In Anguilla’s Hit Your 2nd Shot 1st Fastpitch Tournament

October 30, 2018 by Sofia Fay

By Virgin Islands Softball – Baseball Association

VISBA presents the BVIOC with the championship trophy won by they female team at the Anguilla’s Hit Your 2nd Shot 1st Fastpitch
Tournament. (L-R) Mark Chapman (Treasurer, BVIOC), Kennisha Powell, Darier Malone, Bria Smith, Ephraim Penn (President, BVIOC), Denecia Hodge, Kimesha Adams, Tyalia Nibbs, Kaynesha Stoutt and Lloyd Black (Secretary General, BVIOC). Photo: VISBA

On Friday, October 19, 2018 the Virgin Islands Softball – Baseball female team presented their championship trophy to Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC). Both male and female teams were invited to Anguilla to compete in the first Hit Your 2nd Shot 1st Fast Pitch Tournament from October 12th – 14th 2018. The teams played against Anguilla and two teams from St. Maarten for the title.

Upon completion of the tournament, the female team was victorious with an undefeated record, while the male team placed 3rd overall.

The final game ended with a competitive fight against St. Maarten Team F with a final score 4 – 3 giving the female team the title to return to the British Virgin Islands with. The team’s pitcher, Ms. Kennisha Powell was awarded Best Pitcher in the tournament. “The championship game against St. Maarten was pretty competitive as the game went extra innings
and the team did well,” said Ms Powell.

Mr. Penn encouraged the team to stick together and continue to prepare themselves for other competitions. He further explained that it is the BVIOC’s goal to work with the teams to have this completed well.

“While the team missed this cycle of the 2018 CAC Games held in Barranquilla, Columbia there are high hopes that they will continue to work hard to the qualify for the 2022 CAC Games in Panama City, Panama,” said Mr. Penn. “We recognise that it is very hard to keep a team sport going but we encourage the players to stay focused as the Olympic Committee fully supports the work done thus far.”

Mr. Penn also encouraged the involvement of youths and stressed the importance of having a program implemented as
soon as possible under the Virgin Islands Softball – Baseball Association (VISBA) since softball is now in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the World Baseball Softball Confederation has made major changes in age brackets which everyone must adhere to.

The new competitions are 12 and under (mixed), 15 and under, 18 and Under, 23 and under, Open Male, and Open
Female and the VI must make the necessary changes with the youths in order to participate and to be competitive.

VISBA is in the midst of planning local activities and is hopeful that softball lovers will continue to exercise a bit of patience. In the meantime, the association plans to support other islands and tournaments.

“Although it has been an extremely tough year the team is excited about getting things in full motion,” said Terrence Chinnery, President, VISBA.

Team VI Returns with championship trophy from Anguilla’s Hit Your 2nd Shot 1st Fast Pitch
Tournament. Photo: VISBA

The 15 player team included Che’Vaunne Richardson, Claury Scatliffe, Darier Malone, Denecia Hodge, Bria Smith, Kennisha Powell, Deja Adams, Jheane Niles, Kaynesha Stoutt, Tyalia Nibbs, Shaika Jeffers, Kimesha Adams, Makeda Fahie, Rogelle Edmonson and Shanika Forbes. Terrence Chinnery (President of VISBA) and the coaching team of Allen Smith and Jeremy
Penn accompanied the team.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Softball-Baseball Tagged With: Anguilla’s Hit Your 2nd Shot 1st Fastpitch Tournament, BVI Olympic Committee, Fast Pitch tournament 2018, Virgin Islands Softball-Baseball Association

Death of Patrick Baumann, IOC Member sends shockwaves

October 15, 2018 by Sofia Fay

Mr Patrick Baumann, IOC member and Secretary General of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) died October 14, 2018 aged 51.

It is with the greatest sorrow and shock that the International Olympic Committee and its member NOCs learned of the death of Mr Patrick Baumann, IOC member in Switzerland, in Buenos Aires. He was 51.

Patrick Baumann was a central figure of the Olympic Movement.

Former player, coach and referee, Patrick Baumann dedicated his life to basketball and to the sport community. Deputy Secretary General (1995-2002) of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), he was then unanimously appointed Secretary General by the FIBA Central Board in 2002, a role he has held since. He has been greatly instrumental in the transformation and the growth of the sport in the international basketball community, successfully supporting for instance the popularisation of 3×3 basketball.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “This is a great shock which has hit us all very hard. We can hardly believe this terrible news. Particularly since, even today, we have seen him working hard, as we always knew him, for the sport he loved. We lose a young and sympathetic leader full of hope who was standing for the future of sport. Our thoughts are with his wife, his children and his family.”

To honour the memory of Patrick Baumann, the IOC President asked for the Olympic flag to be flown at half-mast at the IOC Headquarters and at the IOC Headquarters at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires for three days. The IOC also held a memorial in the Youth Olympic Village.

IOC member since 2007, he had been recently appointed as a member (2016-2017) then president (2017) of the Evaluation Commission for the Games of XXXIII Olympiad in 2024, then Vice-Chair of the Coordination Commission for the Games of XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 after the French capital won the organisation of the Olympic Games 2024. He was also chair of the IOC Coordination Commission Los Angeles 2028, helping the two host cities to work closely with each other.

A swiss national, Patrick Baumann was also president of the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee.
Patrick Baumann has continuously and actively participated in the IOC’s development throughout his mandate, as a member in the following IOC Commissions: Evaluation for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad in 2008 (as IF representative) (2000-2001), Coordination for the Games of the XXX Olympiad London 2012 (2007-2012), International Relations (2008-2014), Sport and Law (2010-2014), Evaluation for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in 2020 (2013), Entourage (2014-2015), Marketing (2014-), Athletes’ Entourage (2015-2018); and Legal Affairs (2017-2018).

Able to speak five languages, Patrick Baumann was the owner of a remarkable academic curriculum: MBA from the Business School of the University of Chicago, a Masters in Sports Administration Management (MEMOS) from the University of Lyon in France and a law degree from the University of Lausanne.

A man of numerous talents, as a lawyer he always demonstrated a great sense of responsibility: he was appointed to the International Advisory Board of the World Academy of Sport in 2009, was a member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) since 2010 and was also a member of the Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Patrick Baumann was elected as a Council member of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) in 2011 and re-elected in 2015, he was elected in 2016 President of GAISF and in 2017, President of SportAccord.

“The BVI Olympic Committee joins the IOC in expressing deepest sympathies to Mr Baumann’s family,” said Ephraim Penn, President BVIOC.

Filed Under: Basketball, BVI Olympic Committee Tagged With: Patrick Baumann