BVI Olympic Committee

BVI residents hit the road to better health and fitness

March 20, 2015 by bvioc

Residents kick off Ministry of Health and Social Development Fitness Movement Challenge. Photo: BVIOC

Residents joined in the start of the Ministry of Health and Social Development Fitness Movement Challenge on Monday which kicked off with a walk from the Central Administration Building to ZBVI and back.

Programme Coordinator, Mr. Jason Rubaine has appealed for maximum participation in the 10,000 step programme as chronic diseases continue to be a problem for individuals and the society on a whole.

“With this VI run/walk programme, we seek to inspire persons within the Territory to increase physical activity in an effort to reduce their vulnerability to non-communicable diseases like heart disease, diabetes and some cancers,” said Mr. Rubaine.

The Programme Coordinator also urged businesses, community groups, Government and churches to form groups and join the movement. He said families are encouraged to rally the troops and join the movement, and communities are asked to unite in solidarity and be each other’s keeper as they forge towards becoming a healthier Virgin Islands through the movement.

A group can have a minimum of five people with a designated leader and must be committed to walking a minimum of three days per week for 60 minutes or more, or walk five days per week for a minimum of 30 minutes or more.

The 10,000 step programme is also open to individual walkers.

The 10,000 steps per day programme aims to increase the day to day physical activity level for adults by encouraging the accumulation of physical activity as part of everyday living.

The VI run/walk programme is a collaborative effort between the Ministry Health and Social Development, the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and the BVI Olympic Committee.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee

The Central Arizona College Connection

March 13, 2015 by bvioc

Central Arizona College track and field coach Tony Dougherty paid a visit to the Virgin Islands from 10th-16th July. Coach Dougherty, previously the coach of the women’s programme with responsibility for the college’s throwers of both sexes, took over as head of the combined programme in 2012.

The Central Arizona College connection began in 1994 at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, British Columbia. Rey O’Neal, then President of the BVI Olympic Committee, in a conversation with Nigerian shot putter Chima Ugwu, inquired about the possibility of athletes training and studying at Central Arizona College where Chima, along with several other Nigerians and a fair number of Jamaicans had helped to make C.A.C a powerhouse among two-year colleges in track and field.

“I was given a contact number for head coach, Kurt Van Hazel, and called him from Canada, although he had probably had little knowledge of our islands or whether we could provide athletes capable of competing at that level, but he was extremely cordial and helpful,” said Mr. O’Neal.

Ralston Varlack

Conversations continued over the following months and in January 1995, Ralston Varlack became the first of our athletes to enrol at Central Arizona. Ralston was a long jump finalist at the National Junior College Championships in 1996 and earned a full athletic scholarship to Wichita State University, where he became Missouri Valley Conference long jump Champion indoors and outdoors and qualified for N.C.A.A Indoor Championships in his event.

The next Virgin Islander at Central Arizona was Steve Augustine, who attended as a recipient of an “Olympic Solidarity Scholarship for Promising young Athletes”. Augustine, arguably the most versatile runner in the history of B.V.I High School track, settled into the hurdles at Central, establishing national records at both the 110 and 400 metre distances. In 1997, he became the first athlete from the Territory to win a gold medal at any national collegiate level. His win in the 400 metre hurdles in1997 was followed by a second place finish the following year. He went on to Florida State University on a full scholarship.

Dion Crabbe, another versatile athlete, had a good if not spectacular tenure at Central Arizona. He was an All-America in the 4×100 metre relay and moved on to Mississippi State University. There he would gain All-America honours in both the 100 and 200 metres and he became the Territory’s first medalist at a multi-sport “Games” when he snatched gold in the short sprint at the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2002. Crabbe never attained the heights of 2002 again but he remained one of the better sprinters in the region until his retirement following the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2006, where he placed sixth in the 100 metres.

Concurrent with Crabbe’s stay at C.A.C was the arrival of Tahirah Lewis, the first female athlete from the Territory to enroll there. She had a decent career at Central Arizona and, though her progress was slowed by illness, set new national records in the shot put and discus throw.

Karene King in the 100m heats at Glasgow 2014 Commonweatlh Games

There would be no other Virgin Islands female there until the advent of Karene King and Bianca Dougan in 2007. Like Lewis, who went on to Coppin State University, Dougan and King did well enough to earn scholarships to Portland State University in Oregon and the University of Minnesota respectfully. Dougan had actually become the first female Junior College All-Americaf rom the Virgin Islands as a member of the C.A.C 4X400 metre relay team. King would go on to win the Big Sky Conference 100m-200m sprint double in 2010.

Until 2001 all Virgin Islands athletes at Central Arizona were athletes whose opportunities had been based primarily on perceived potential.That changed with the arrival of 17 year old Eric Matthias, already a Carifta Games and C.A.C Junior Championship gold medalist in the discus throw. He established new National marks in the shot put and discus throw, before moving on to join a strong throws cadre at Boise State University in Idaho, where he would add the Hammer mark to his National Record collection.

Two other young men entered Central Arizona as freshmen during Mathias’ second year – Kevin Fahie, a 400 metre runner, and Ludence Smith, whose best event was the 800 metres. Neither had the athletic pedigree of their compatriot. but each was a member of relay quartet that gained junior college All-America honors in the relays. After graduation, Kevin earned a scholarship to California State University at Northridge while Smith transferred to the University of New Orleans. That decision proved unwise as, in the wake of Hurricane Kathrina, U.N.O. did not field a track team for two years.

The next two years saw the best throwers from the Territory join the C.A.C squads, now led by Coach Al Shirley, with Coach Tony Dougherty having primary responsibility for the throws. Kyle Francis was useful in the Discus throw and shot put, but Omar Jones, twice a C.A.C Junior Championships medalist in the javelin throw really distinguished himself in that event while at Central Arizona. In 2009 he won the National Junior College title, thus becoming the Virgin Islands second National Juco Champion after Steve Augustine’s 1997 success.

A pair of multi-eventers were to find their way to Arizona just after first decade of the 21st century ended. Keron Stoute had established a reputation in Connecticut as one of the top high school multi-eventers on the East Coast. At Central Arizona he earned All-America honours in the decathlon and high jump. He had some difficulty adjusting to the higher hurdles and heavier discus. He finished his collegiate outdoor eligibility at Bethune-Cookman University where he had a good if unspectacular two years.

The heptathlete Kanishque Todman had a strange passage at Central Arizona. After shining in Arizona indoor competitions in 2012 she competed at the National Junior College Championships, finishing a creditable fourth indoors, but never competed collegiately again.

Central Arizona College’s Tynelle Gumbs, left, Trevia Gumbs and Eldred Henry established records in the Weight Throw and Shot Put events respectively. Photo: Tony Dougherty

In 2012 there appeared on the scene on Tortola a giant of a young man who would eclipse Eric Matthias’ records in the shot put and discus throw. A year after beginning to train under the tutelage of Omar Jones, he was making his mark at the regional level with medals in both events at the Carifta Games and top five performances at the Pan American Junior Championships. Granted a full scholarship by coach Tony Dougherty, now heading the combined men’s and women’s track and field programme, Eldred Henry was quick to prove his worth, breaking the national senior records for both implements three times each. He became the first thrower from an O.E.C.S Country to toss the discus beyond 60 metres (and 200 ft). and became the third junior college champion from his country.

Joining Eldred at Central Arizona College in August, 2014 are the Gumbs twins, Trevia and Tynelle, who have six regional Junior Championships medals between them. Trevia is primarily a shot putter, who also throws the discus while Tynelle’s talents lie more with the discus and javelin throws. Both will also be introduced to the hammer throw as well.

The Gumbs sisters are actually the second pair of twins from the Virgin Islands to represent Central Arizona in intercollegiate sports. Basketball players Tamara and Tafara Phillip had played on the 2010-11 and 2011-12 teams. Tamara gained All-Conference honors and earned a scholarship to the University of Albany in New York.

Like his predecessor Kurt Van Hazel, coach Dougherty paid a visit to the Virgin Islands and met several of his past athletes as well as some who might follow the well-worn trail to Coolidge Arizona in the future.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee

Eldred Henry makes his mark in shot put

March 5, 2015 by bvioc

Eldred Henry throws the Shot Put a distance of 17.08

Eldred Henry throws the Shot Put at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Photo: BVIOC

On Saturday, February 21, Eldred Henry a Sophomore at Central Arizona College eclipsed the NJCAA shot put record and added a B.V.I. National and O.E.C.S. Shot Put record to those he holds in the Discus Throw.

His toss of 20.00m (65’7 1/2”) achieved at the Glendale Community College Invitational in Glendale, Arizon, is only 45 centimeters short of qualifying for the IAAF World Championships in the shot.

The record throw has rewarded him with the National Jr. College Regional 2015 Awards title of Men’s Field Athlete of the Year (West Region).

Henry’s put has been surpassed by throwers from only five countries in the Central American and Caribbean region: Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. It would have ranked him fourth-best among the C.A.C. region’s throwers in 2014.

Henry also holds the O.E.C.S. record in the Discus Throw with a mark of 61.90m (203′ 0″) achieved last year, heads into the National Junior College Indoor Championships this week as a heavy favourite to repeat his victory in the Outdoor shot put as a freshman in 2014.

Henry’s freshman teammates, twin sisters Tynelle and Trevia Gumbs have also been in impressive form in their throws in the early season meets.

Tynelle’s 18.14m (59’6″) in the weight throw – the indoor version of the hammer – leads all junior college throwers to date.

Trevia has set national records both indoors and outdoors in the shot put with marks of 14.47m (47′ 5 1/2″) and 14.04m (46′ 0 1/2″) respectively. She ranks second in the National Junior College lists behind Jamaica’s, Carifta Games multi-medalist, Gleneve Grange, but Trevia had the satisfaction of beating her in their most recent encounter when setting her indoor national record in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee

Community fitness challenge!

January 22, 2015 by bvioc

“Walking in a group helps you stay committed to a regular walking routine as it serves as motivation and is a great opportunity to socialize and spend quality time with family and friends.” – Ms Ivy George, Coordinator for Health Promotions. Photo: BVIOC

A 12 week fitness challenge has been issued to residents of the Virgin Islands to increase physical activity thereby ensuring a healthier Virgin Islands.

The challenge has been issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Development and begins on February 15 and ends on April 18.
The fitness challenge is a part of the VI run/walk programme which seeks to inspire the community especially adults between the ages of 25-64 through widespread participant walking.

Coordinator for Health Promotions Ms. Ivy George stated that the challenge was strategically set for this time of the year after many persons have indulged in the fun and food of the holiday season.

“We want new and existing walkers to form community or workplace walking groups and be committed to walking for a minimum of three times per week for an hour or five times per week for 30 minutes,” Ms George said.

The Coordinator added that the establishment of community walking groups are imperative to the success of this programme.

Walking in a group, she added, helps you stay committed to a regular walking routine as it serves as motivation and is a great opportunity to socialize and spend quality time with family and friends.

Ms George pointed out that persons who may not want to be committed to a group can join the 10,000 step programme.

She said that there is something for everyone, and individuals who wish to take part in the challenge but do not want to walk in a group can strive towards doing an accumulated 10,000 steps per day by tracking their movement using pedometers.

Ms. George further outlined that the inspiration behind the run/walk programme is to increase physical activity of the residents of the BVI in an effort to reduce the Territory’s vulnerability to non-communicable diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and renal failure.

These diseases, she explained, can be kept at bay with the correct lifestyle and the community must be inspired to come together in the fight towards achieving a healthier Virgin Islands.

The VI Run/Walk For Health programme is one of many initiatives being undertaken by the Ministry of Health under the Health and Wellness and Non communicable diseases prevention programme.

It is a collaborative effort between the Ministry Health and Social Development, the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and the BVI Olympic Committee.

Persons interested in accepting the challenge can contact the Ministry of Health at 468-2280 to register.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development has implemented a 10-year strategy to improve the health and well being of the population and reduce the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

The strategy prioritises prevention by integrating policies and action across multiple settings where people live, play and work to improve health and save lives.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee

From Winter Olympics to Gold – The BVI Olympic Committee 2014 Review

December 31, 2014 by bvioc

2014 was one of the busiest years for sports in the Virgin Island as the territory’s athletes and representatives attended more games, conferences and workshops than ever before.

The year started off with the VI’s participation in the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games in February when half-pipe skier, Peter Adam Crook represented the territory in a winter sport for just the second time in its history.

This month also saw preparations afoot for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games when the BVIOC hosted the ZEUS workshop. 13 National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association delegates from the Caribbean and Canada attended the 3-day workshop to gain theoretical and practical education on how to organize, develop, and plan for regional, national and international sporting competitions.

Office of the Premier

In April, the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay brought the community together in a 2-day, public relay through Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda. The relay, a precursor to the Commonwealth Games, traversed the VI by land and sea as part of the baton’s tour through 71 Commonwealth countries and Overseas Territories.

The first contract of the National Sport Structure was signed in May between the BVIOC, the Virgin Islands Volleyball Association and VI Volleyball coach, Ms. Jackie Weekes. The financial support of $30,000 was offered through the Olympic Solidarity Organisation to all National Federations as an opportunity to review their sport’s existing programme and to manage a development programme from Primary School through National Junior Teams.

In June, Karl Scatliffe attended the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees and Toronto 2015 (CANOC/TO2015) workshop on Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) held in the Dominican Republic. The LTAD framework is a seven-stage training, competition and recovery pathway guiding an individual’s experience in sport and physical activity from infancy through all phases of adulthood. The beneficiaries of the promgramme are selected based on their involvement in sport by the BVIOC.

Olympic Day celebrations at Tortola Sports Club

At the Olympic Day celebrations in June, the BVIOC in conjunction with the Athletics, Sailing, and Swimming federations announced the VI’s athletes for the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games. Peter Adam Crook was also awarded the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Participant’s Pin.

In July, Olanzo A. Boynes who heads the BVI Taekwondo Association, attended the Elite Athletes Programme via PASO. The High Level Technical Continental Course of Taekwondo held in Mexico was intended to help instructors to identify, train, and enhance the performance of athletes that compete in Taekwondo and to continue the development and success of the sport in the territory. In August, President of BVI Swimming Federation Elsworth Phillip. attended the Elite Athletes Programme via PASO in Colorado Springs for the sport of Swimming.

Team BVI at the Glasgow 2014 opening ceremony. Photo: (C) PA Images

10 athletes from Athletics, Squash and Swimming represented the VI at the XX Commonwealth Games held from July 23 – August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland. This was the first year that the territory was represented in Swimming at the games.

From August 18 – 26, 8 competitors from Athletics, Sailing, and Swimming attended the second edition of the Youth Summer Olympic Games, in Nanjing, China.

In September, the BVIOC renewed its partnership with Government to promote the Walk/Run for Health campaign with a pledge of $30,000. The sum, donated over a three year period, is sourced through the Olympic Solidarity programme. The funds support a three-year campaign launched by the BVI Health and Wellness Council 8 as an urgent call for VI residents to increase their physical activity.

Squash took advantage of the Pan-American Festival in September to benefit from athletic preparation for participation in the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

In October, the BVIOC, in conjunction with the Brazilian Olympic Committee / Olympic Solidarity selected Mr. Derwin Scatliffe, Athletic Director of the Elmore Stoutt High School, to attend the National Olympic Committee (NOC) Exchange and Cooperation Programme. The initiative shared knowledge, experiences, and practices of sporting projects and school sport systems with a view to promoting the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, respect, spirit and unity and to harnessing and developing the talent of prospective national athletes in various sports disciplines.

Also in October, Ms. Gloria Fahie attended a CANOC/TO2015 workshop on Voluntarism which was held in Grenada. The course covered topics such as organizational needs, recruiting, volunteer group work, training volunteers, and managing and retaining volunteers.

VIOC Past President, Rey O’Neal with Guy Hill, Lindel Hodge, Dean Greenaway, and Kenneth Fraser representing his nephew, Errol Fraser, the honouree 1984 Olympians in attendance at a celebratory even to mark the 30th anniversary of the BVIOC

VIOC Past President, Rey O’Neal with the honouree 1984 Olympians in attendance at a celebratory even to mark the 30th anniversary of the BVIOC

On November 1, the BVIOC marked 30 years of the VI’s participation in regional and international Games with a reception that honoured the first Olympians to represent the territory and acknowledged all 25 Olympians. The celebratory event included an overview of the BVIOC’s milestones and history from 1984 to date.

The VI’s bumper year of games closed out with a Gold medal win by long jumper, Chantel Malone who took first place in the Veracruz 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games held in Mexico in November. Malone was in the company of 4 other athletes representing the VI in Athletics and Squash.

Athletes in 2014 were beneficiaries of Olympic Solidarity Programmes with Rio 2016 Scholarships awarded to Alec Anderson and Christopher Brockbank for Sailing, Elinah Phillip for Swimming, and Chantel Malone and Eldred Henry for Track & Field.

The BVIOC President and Treasurer ended the organisation’s year of commitments by attending the 2nd Americas Best Practice Symposium hosted in Miami by the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO), the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and Olympic Solidarity. The symposium was conducted over a two-day period in which national Olympic committee leaders exchanged knowledge and experience through presentations, panel discussions, question and answer sessions. Topics included athlete development, resource allocation and branding.

Other notable achievements for 2014 included continuing with promoting Sports for All through the Walk for Health and Swimming though the KATS Swimming program; advising Government on the Virgin Islands National Sport Policy; establishing an Elite Athlete program in collaboration with Ministry of Education and setting up a quarterly meeting between the BVIOC members with the Minister of Sports.

The BVIOC also made big strides in expanding the VI’s Anti-Doping Programme to ensure that the territory is in full compliance with the 2015 Code. The VI now has 2 certified Doping Control Officers (DCOs) who attended a Result Management workshop in Guyana in February and re-trained online in October. The DCOs conducted 9 out-of-competition testings during the year. Educational programs were carried out at the National Basketball tournament and at the Olympic Day Run at Tortola Sports Cub.

The BVIOC took advantage of the Capacity Support Programme, a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Canada, with funding support from Olympic Solidarity, designed to build and enhance the capacity of Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) / National Olympic Committees (NOCs)s.

Upcoming 2015/2016 activities, and programmes include the enforcement of the 2015 World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) prohibited list; hosting the 2016 Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) Board meeting in Tortola; rolling out 16, LIMA 2019/CANOC 2015-2018 Workshops Agreements, and supporting the 2015 BVI National UNESCO Education Project.

Games of 2015 include Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games in Canada from July 10 – 26, Chef de Mission Xavier Dag Samuels; Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games from 5-12 September, Chef de Mission Angeleta Bernard; and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Brazil from 5-21 August 2016 – Chef de Mission to be decided.

The BVIOC is a not-for profit organization that operates on a year-round basis to provide practical and financial support for the territory’s National Federations and their athletes representing the nation in international games. The BVIOC also represents and promotes the Olympic Movement values of Respect, Excellence, and Friendship.

The BVIOC relies on a committee of volunteers and an executive director. The current committee comprises President, Ephraim Penn; 1st Vice President, Neville Smith; 2nd Vice President, Roy Barry; Secretary General, Lloyd Black; Treasurer, Mark Chapman; Athlete’s Representative, Sabinah Clement. Cleave Farrington holds the post of Executive Director.

VI athletes and delegations for 2014

Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games – Chef de Mission Mark Chapman – February 7 – 23, 2014

1 athlete attended:

Peter Adam Crook – Half-Pipe skiing

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – Chef de Mission Mark Chapman – July23 – August 3, 2014

10 athletes attended:

Amarah Phillip – Swimming
Elinah Phillip – Swimming
Ashley Kelly – Track and Field
Chantel Malone – Track and Field (4th at FINALS)
Eldred Henry – Track and Field
Karene King – Track and Field
Keron Stoute – Track and Field
Shaquoy Stephens – Track and Field
Tahesia Harrigan-Scott – Track and Field (Did not attend)
Joseph Chapman – Squash

Coaches:

Winston Potter – Track and field
Karl Scatliffe – Track and field
Samir Ahmed – Swimming
Tracy Bradshaw – Swimming
Joseph Kneipp – Squash

Other officials:

Physio – Thomas Jepperson
Attache – Shirley Parker
President Penn and Secretary General Black also attended

Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games – Chef de Mission Stephanie Russ-Penn – August 2014

8 athletes attended:

Sam Morrel – Sailing
Amarah Phillip – Swimming
Deya Erickson – Track and Field
Akeem Bradshaw – Track and Field
Kala Penn – Track and Field
Kyron McMaster – Track and Field
Lakeisha Mimi Warner – Track and Field
Nelda Huggins – Track and Field

Coaches:

Christopher Waiters –
Andrew Morrel
Ralston Varlack
Tracy Bradshaw
Elinah Phillip

Veracruz 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games – Chef de Mission Cleave M. Farrington – November 14 – 30, 2014

5 athletes attended:

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott – Track and Field
Chantel Malone – Track and Field – (Gold medal was achieved)
Joseph Chapman – Squash
Joseph Kneipp – Squash
Michael Adamson – Squash

Coaches:

Mark Chapman
Winston Potter

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee

Quarter Finals and Finals for BVI athletes at CAC Games

November 25, 2014 by bvioc

BVI’s athletes advanced in their events to compete for progression and medals in today’s Central American and Caribbean Games at Veracruz 2014.

Joe Chapman and Joe Kneipp beat St Vincent and the Grendines in the Men’s Squash Doubles Round of 16 in two sets (11-3, 11-7) to advance to the quarter finals. The BVI duo will play against the #1 seeded twins from Mexico, Cesar and Arturo Salazar at 2.15pm AST.

Chantel Malone and Tahesia Harrigan-Scott will be competing in Track and Field final events. Chantel will be competing in the women’s long jump at 2:00pm (AST) and Tahesia will be sprinting at 4.40pm (AST) for her 3rd consecutive CAC 100m Gold medal.

Edited to show amended time for Women’s Long Jump Finals event.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Squash, Vera Cruz News

BVI athletes Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Chantel Malone gear up for CAC Games

November 24, 2014 by bvioc

(l-r) Chantel Malone (long jump), Shaun Williams, physiotherapist, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (100m), and coach, Winston Potter. Photo: BVIOC

BVI’s track and field athletes, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Chantel Malone arrived Friday, November 21st in the city of Veracruz. The women are competing in the XXII Central American Games Veracruz 2014 in the 100m dash and long jump, respectively.

The two-times gold medal champion in the Central American and Caribbean Games Cartagena de Indias 2006 and Mayaguez 2010, Tahesia Harrigan- Scott, is very excited to compete with the hope of becoming the 2014 gold medalist and three-times champion.

Harrigan-Scott qualified for the Veracruz 2014 100m finals with a time of 11.60 during the semi-finals which took place on Monday, November 24 at 12.00pm AST in the Olympic Stadium Heriberto Jara Corona in the city of Xalapa. The 100m finals will take place on Tuesday, November 25 at 4:40pm AST.

Chantel Malone recently had the best place finish by a BVI athlete in the history of the Commonwealth Games competition, which took place in Glasgow, Scotland. She finished fourth in the long jump of the XX edition of these games. Her long jump competition begins on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 2:00pm AST.

The rest of the Athletics team comprises coach, Winston Potter, and physiotherapist, Shaun Williams.

The athletes have been training twice a day in the Heriberto Jara Corona venue.

Training for the 22nd CAC games at the Heriberto Jara Corona venue. Photo: BVIOC

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Vera Cruz News

BVI Squash team ready for CAC action at Veracruz 2014

November 20, 2014 by bvioc

BVI Squash Team are welcomed to the Veracruz 2014 CAC Games in Mexico. Photo: BVIOC

Two days after the opening ceremony of the XXII Central American and Caribbean Games Veracruz 2014, on November 16, the Squash players, Michael Adamson, Joseph Chapman, and Joseph Kneipp arrived at the International Airport of the city of Veracruz. The Squash coach, Mark Chapman arrived on November 19.

The Squash players immediately began their training sessions the next morning. They have been doing training sessions twice a day in the Leyes de Reforma Venue where they will be competing in the city of Boca Del Rio, Veracruz.

The Squash Technical Meeting will take place on Saturday November 22, after which the official schedule will be published.

The Squash competition begins on November 23 and ends on the 29th. The athletes are pumped and are looking forward to competing!

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Squash, Vera Cruz News

CACSO & Veracruz Organizing Committee welcome BVI to the 22nd CAC Games

November 14, 2014 by bvioc

BVIOC President, Ephraim Penn, and Chef de Mission, Veracruz 2014, Cleave Farrington at the flag raising ceremony for the 22nd CAC Games. Photo: Provided

The 22nd Central American and Caribbean Games’ welcome ceremony for the British Virgin Islands, held jointly with Aruba and Bahamas, took place on November 12, 2014 at the World Trade Center in Veracruz, Mexico. BVI Olympic Committee President, Ephraim Penn, and Chef de Mission for the games, Cleave Farrington were in attendance.

Speeches on behalf of the organizing committee of Veracruz were given by representative of the General Director of the Organizing Committee, Lic Carlos de Jesus Sosa Ahumada who welcomed the participating countries. Cleave Farrington spoke on behalf of the BVI and thanked Mr. Sosa Ahumada for his warm hospitality and wished the organisers success with the Games.

The BVI flag was raised following the speeches and signaled the closing of the welcome ceremony. Prior to closing, there was an exchange of gifts between BVI and Veracruz organizing committee.

Filed Under: Athletics, BVI Olympic Committee, Squash, Vera Cruz News Tagged With: BVI Olympic Committee, BVIO, CAC Games, Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, Veracruz 2014

BVI Olympic Committee celebrates 30 years of international competition from Sarajevo to Sochi

November 7, 2014 by bvioc

BVIOC Past President, Rey O’Neal with Guy Hill, Lindel Hodge, Dean Greenaway, and Kenneth Fraser representing his nephew, Errol Fraser, the honouree 1984 Olympians in attendance at a celebratory even to mark the 30th anniversary of the BVIOC

The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) marked 30 years of the Virgin Islands’ participation in regional and international Games with a reception that honoured the first Olympians to represent the territory. The celebratory event, which took place at Old Government House Museum on November 1, included an overview of the BVIOC’s milestones and history from 1984 to date.

Lloyd Black, Secretary General for the BVIOC, named the ten honourees. Errol ‘Canute’ Fraser (1950-2002) was the first VI athlete to participate in the Olympics when he competed in speed skating at the Sarajevo 1984 Winter Games. The territory’s first participation in the Summer Olympics was Los Angeles 1984 when Dean Greenaway, Guy Hill, Lindel Hodge, and Jerry Molyneaux competed in track and field, and Robin Tattersall, Elvet Meyers, Keith Thomas, Keith Barker, and Peter Barker (deceased) competed in sailing.

The 2015 BVIOC Executive board, (L-R) Mark Chapman, Treasurer, Neville Smith, Roy Barry, Vice President, Ephraim Penn, President, Lloyd Balck, Secretary General, Cleave Farrington, Executive Director. Missing from photo is Sabinah Clement, Athlete Representative.

In his opening remarks, President of the BVIOC, Ephraim Penn highlighted the necessary changes undergone from 2006 to date to ensure that the organization was fully compliant with international, regional, and local regulations. Major areas included creating a constitution and holding regular elections, setting up an accounting framework, appointing legal counsel, ensuring compliance in accordance with the BVI’s Non-Profit Organizations Act, 2012 and creating a compliance manual for the national federations, incorporating the BVIOC as a limited guarantee company, and becoming a member of the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation.

Penn also outlined some of the areas of work undertaken by the organization to ensure that athletes from the 15 member national federations who represent the territory at regional and global games are able to get the necessary training and support to compete at the highest level. These include submitting applications for Olympic Solidarity funding for athletes competing to qualify for upcoming Olympic Games, and the introduction of the Elite Athlete programme.

“We collaborated with government who agreed to partner with the BVIOC and offer a matching grant to those in the Elite Athlete programme,” said Mr. Penn. “The BVIOC provides $12,000 per year for each qualifying athlete and with the government’s matching contribution, those top athletes each receives an annual stipend of $24,000 to give them the opportunity to focus on training and to compete with the best in the world.”

In her toast to the BVIOC, Olympian, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott recognized all the members of the committee, past and present, for their contribution to ensuring that the VI athletes have access to resources necessary to excel at a higher level.

Dr. the Honourable Premier Orlando D. Smith congratulated the BVIOC, volunteers and all the athletes on results achieved to date and reassured the BVIOC of government’s continued support to help improve sports in the territory. “Really there is a lot that government has to do,” said the Honourable Premier. “For example we know that there is a lot that we have put in in terms of infrastructure. We will continue to support you to the best of our ability given our daily demands on government.”

Olympian Lindel Hodge, Ephraim Penn, President BVIOC, Johnny Hassan, founding member of the BVIOC, Rey O’Neal, Past President BVIOC, Das Surapaneni, committed to sports in the BVI.

Mr. Rey O’Neal, past president of the BVIOC explained that while the BVIOC was established in 1982, the efforts had begun in 1979. Mr. O’Neal gave special recognition to Johnny Hassan who was instrumental in securing recognition of the body by the Central American and Caribbean sports organization and confirmation of the BVI’s participation in its first Games at the 1982 CAC Games in Cuba.

Self-taught long jumper, Guy Hill spoke on behalf of the Los Angeles 1984 Olympians and challenged the aspiring track athletes to set themselves a goal of breaking the 30 year-old national record which is still held by the Los Angeles 1984 400m relay team which comprised Hill, Dean Greenaway, Jerry Molyneaux, and Lindel Hodge.

By way of encouragement, Hill talked of the 3 ‘Ts’ that he shares with young track and field athletes: “You’ve got the Talent, you’ve got the Training and you’ve got to have the Tenacity to hold on to face the mental and physical challenge. So to the young ones coming up, pay attention to details, the Olympic experience is one that you take for the rest of your life. The Olympic creed is not to win but to take part.”

The vote of thanks was given by aspiring track and field Olympian, Kyron McMaster.

The event was attended by the Dr. the Honourable Premier Orlando D. Smith and Mrs. Lorna Smith, past and present members of the BVIOC executive, representatives of the national federations, past Olympians and athletes of the Youth Olympic Games, the PanAm Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Other invited guests included individuals with a long-standing commitment to sports in the territory, and media.

A gallery of photos of the evening can be found on the the BVIOC page on Facebook.

L-R) Winston Potter, athletics coach, Nelda Huggins, athlete, Rey O’Neal Past President BVIOC, Ephraim Penn, President BVIOC, Dr. the Honourable Premier Orlando D. Smith, Tanya Medley, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Doping Control Officer (DCO), Andy Bickerton, President, BVIFA.

Dag Samuels, athletics coach, Olympian Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, John Lewis, Past President BVIOC.

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee Tagged With: BVI Olympic Committee, Olympians

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