Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games – Team BVI Competition Schedule
Team BVI in Nanjing, China for 2nd edition of the Youth Olympic Games
August 15, 2014 by
Team BVI in Nanjing 2014. Photo: Provided
The second Youth Olympic Games will kick off in Nanjing, China with the official opening ceremony which will take place on Saturday, August 16. Chef de Mission for Nanjing 2014, Stephanie Russ-Penn is settling in to the Athletes’ Village with the Virgin Islands’ young competitors from athletics, swimming, and sailing.
Team BVI includes the following athletes:
Sam Morrell, who has been selected as the flag bearer for the opening ceremony, will be sailing in the Men’s Byte CII (one person dinghy) starting on August 18.
Amarah Phillips will be competing in swimming in the Women’s 50m Butterfly on August 19, and in the Women’s 50m Freestyle on August 21.
In athletics the following athletes will be taking part in the qualification rounds: Deya Erickson in the Women’s 100m Hurdles on August 20; Kala Penn in the Women’s Long Jump on August 20; Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner in the Women’s 800m on August 20; Nelda Huggins in the Women’s 100m on August 21; Kyron McMaster in the Men’s 400m Intermediate Hurdles on August 22; and Akeem Bradshaw, Men’s Triple Jump on August 22.
“At the last Youth Olympic Games in 2011 we were represented just in Athletics and it is very pleasing to have athletes from three sports representing the Virgin Islands for the second edition of the Games,” said Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee. “The athletes qualified for Nanjing 2014, hitting the required marks through hard work and dedication. Despite acclimating to a new culture, weather and most importantly, overcoming jet lag bearing in mind that Nanjing is 12 hours ahead of the BVI, we know that they are in good hands with Chef de Mission, Mrs. Stephanie Russ-Penn and we look forward to their performances in the upcoming competitions.”
The full schedule can be found on http://www.nanjing2014.org/en/en_sports/GamestimeResults.htm
VI athletes qualify for Commonwealth Games Finals and Semi Finals
July 31, 2014 by
Chantel Malone leapt to the finals of the Long Jump with her seasonal best of 6.55m in the qualifying rounds at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games this morning. Chantel’s Personal Best is 6.65m. The mark ranks her 2nd overall in the qualifiers with the top qualifying mark of 6.67m going to Bianca Stuart of the Bahamas.
Karene King and Ashley Kelly both made it through to the 200m semi finals in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Karene came 4th in her heat with a qualifying time of 24.22 (PB 23.24, SB 24.06). Ashley placed 3rd in her heat with a time of 24.40 (PB 23.49, SB 24.08).
The times rank Karene and Ashley 20th and 23rd respectively out of 41 competitors.
Eldred Henry competed in the qualifying round of the Discus Throw with a hurl of 51.39m, which placed him 7th in his round and 15th overall to fall short of the qualifying mark. Eldred’s Seasonal and Personal Best is 61.90m which he achieved earlier this year at Trinton Invitational at UC San Diego in April.
The Women’s 200m semi-finals will take place Thursday, July 31 starting at 1.00pm local time and the Long Jump finals will take place at 2.15pm local time.
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Update – Monday, July 28, 2014
July 28, 2014 by
Amarah Phillip takes the dive in lane 2 for the 50m Butterfly
Swimming wrapped up for the BVI team on Sunday with some very credible performances all round.
Amarah Phillip had personal bests in all her 3 three races. In the 50m Freestyle, Amarah placed 42nd overall with a time of 28.95 improving on her previous personal best which was 29.18. In the 50m Butterfly, she placed 38th overall with a time of 30.94 shaving a couple of seconds off her previous Personal Best of 32.10. In the 100m Butterfly, she placed 26th overall with a time of 1.09.16, a remarkable improvement on her previous Personal Best of 1.16.35.
Elinah Phillip was right on her personal bests in both her races placing 30th overall in the 50m Freestyle with a time of 27.57 (Personal Best – 27.54), and placing 31st in the 100m Freestyle with a time of 1.00.82 (Personal Best – 1.00.72).
Both girls exhibited talented performances in the field of strong competitors and show promise for Gold Coast 2018.
Joe Chapman bows out of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games after reaching the Men’s Squash Semi-Finals
In squash, Joe Chapman won his match in Round of 64 in three straight sets to play in Round of 32 which he lost 1-3. Joe won his match in the Men’s Classic Plate Quarter Finals, 3 -1 and went on to play in semi-finals on Sunday but lost by 1-3 against Scotland’s Kevin Moran to bring his 2014 Commonwealth Games to a close. This latter was a good match and Joe had the honour of playing on the show court in front of 3,000 fervent Scottish squash fans and on live TV.
The all round good performances from Joe secure him a top 20 squash finish and and credit him as the highest- ranking finisher of all players from the Caribbean.
Karene King in the 100m heats
Athletics kicked off in the Commonwealth Games with Karene King finishing the 100m to place 5th in her heat and 27th overall – just three places out of qualifying in a time of 11.93. Karene will run again on Wednesday, July 30th in the 200m.
Ashley Kelly makes it to the 400m semi finals
Ashley Kelly flew out the blocks determined to qualify for the semi-finals and came in 4th with a time of 54.26 (Personal Best – 52.71) qualifying 20th overall. She went on to finish 8th in her 400m semi final with a time of 54.35. With 24 competitors in the semis, Ashley ranked 22nd overall.
Eldred Henry throws the Shot Put a distance of 17.08
Eldred Henry threw the Shot Put 17.08 and was just four places away from making the final. Eldred will compete in the Discus Throw on Wednesday, July 30.
Tahesia Harrigan-Scott withdrew from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games for personal reasons which arose at the last minute.
Official results and schedules of the XX Commonwealth Games are posted on the Glasgow 2014 website and can be found on http://results.glasgow2014.com/. Photos of the athletes in action and updates are also posted on the BVI Olympic Committee page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BVIOlympicCommittee.
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Live
July 24, 2014 by
Watch the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Live
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800m runner Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner joins the 2014 Youth Olympic Team
July 15, 2014 by
Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner. Photo: Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway
Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner has been awarded a Universality place and joins the 7 athletes previously announced by the BVI Olympic Committee as competitors for the Virgin Islands at the 2nd Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China.
The VI’s athletes for Nanjing 2014 will compete in Athletics, Sailing and Swimming. The Athletics team includes 100m sprinter, Nelda Huggins; 100m hurdler, Deya Erickson; long jumper, Kala Penn; 400m intermediate hurdler, Kyron McMaster; triple jumper, Akeem Bradshaw, and 800m runner, Lakeisha “Mimi” Warner.
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 representing the Virgin Island in swimming and she will be competing in the 50m Butterfly and the 50m Freestyle.
The delegation will also include Chef de Mission for Nanjing 2014, Mrs. Stephanie Russ Penn; Tracy Bradshaw (Swimming coach), Ralston “Grandfather” Henry (Athletics coach) and Christopher Watters (Sailing coach).
The team departs the territory on August 10 and will return on August 30. The official opening ceremony will take place on August 16 and will celebrate with a closing ceremony on August 28.
The full schedule of events can be found on the official Youth Olympic Games web site, http://www.nanjing2014.org/en/en_sports/scheduleResults.htm.
VI’s Nanjing 2014 athletes announced at Olympic Day celebrations
June 24, 2014 by
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!
Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games athletes to be announced at Olympic Day celebration. Sochi 2014 Olympian to receive Olympic Participant Pin
June 17, 2014 by
Corrected to reflect new location and start time of Children’s Triathlon
The young athletes confirmed to represent the Virgin Islands at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in swimming, sailing and athletics will be announced this Saturday, June 21 at the Tortola Sports Club during Olympic Day celebrations.
The afternoon programme of events will take place between 4.00pm and 6.00pm and will include a special presentation of the Olympic Participant Pin by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports to Peter Adam Crook, the VI’s half-pipe skier at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The annual, symbolic Olympic Day 2-mile walk/run will close out the activities. The events are free and open to the public.
“The BVIOC wants the whole community to come out and support our young Olympians-to-be and to get involved with the message of Olympism,” said Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC. “We will have with us some of the young athletes who will be representing the Virgin Islands at the highest level of global competition. This will be the first time that the territory will be represented in the sports of swimming and sailing at the Youth Olympic Games. These participants, along with those from the sport of athletics, have worked extremely hard to qualify as competitors and the BVIOC is excited to see their efforts come to fruition.”
The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games will take place in Nanjing, China from August 16 – 28, approximately six months after the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games during which the VI was represented in the half-pipe ski event by Peter Adam Crook.
“Olympic Day is an occasion to highlight the Olympic values of Respect, Excellence, and Friendship,” noted Penn. “The philosophy requires us to be responsible citizens and to work towards unity through Respect for what has been entrusted to us, striving for Excellence in all that we do, and to foster local and global Friendships. He may not have achieved the score-board results hoped for, but Adam most recently demonstrated these values during his time at the Olympics in Sochi, Russia and this will be a fitting occasion to recognize his contribution to the Virgin Islands’ Olympic history.”
The activities, supported by Road Town Wholesale, distributors of Dasani and Coca Cola, will start at 4.00pm when runners and walkers can register for the symbolic Olympic Day walk/run. Participants will start from the Tortola Sports Club (TSC) at 4.45pm and will proceed west through Road Town and return to the sports club. Participants will receive a free tee-shirt and a certificate of participation on completion of the walk/run.
The Olympic Day run in Virgin Gorda will start at 6.30am (registration 6.00am) from the The Virgin Gorda Centre, HLSCC, The Valley. For details, contact Gloreah Gibson at gloreahgibson@hotmail.com or tel: 547-7404. The BVI Triathlon Federation will host a Children’s Olympic Day Triathlon at Smuggler’s Cove at 10:00am following on from the annual Summer Splash (corrected information). For details, contact Richard Morgan on 346-6002.
For more information on Olympic Day please contact Cleave Farrington, Executive Director of the BVIOC, by phone at 542 1007 or 496 6007 or by email at cmfarrington@bviolympics.org.
The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton relays through the Virgin Islands by land and sea
April 7, 2014 by
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, April 7, 2014 – The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton and traveling team departed for Jamaica on the morning of Saturday, April 5 following a successful two-day tour of Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is the precursor to the Commonwealth Games held every four years and is on its journey to 71 Commonwealth nations and Overseas Territories. The BVI was the 53rd country to be visited. The baton contains a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the Commonwealth Game athletes.
The tour of the territory was launched on Thursday, April 3 when the baton was officially presented to the people of the VI at an opening ceremony held at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park. The park thronged with people of all ages and nationalities in a true representation of the cultural mix that makes up the population of the islands.
The baton made its entrance in the hands of Mrs. Fortuna Belrose, Regional Vice-President of the Commonwealth Games Federation. A procession of past Commonwealth Games participants, which included Steve Augustine, Karl Scatliffe, Dion Stoutt, Joe Chapman, Ralston Henry, and Roger Mathavious, followed behind.
Welcome remarks were shared by Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Lloyd Black, Secretary General of the BVIOC, Governor Boyd McCleary, Acting Premier, Dr. the Hon. Kedrick D. Pickering, Mrs. Fortuna Belrose, Mr. Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC, the Hon. Myron Walwyn, Minister for Education, Culture and Sports, Mr. Louis Rosa, QBR Team Leader, and Mr. Rey O’Neal.
Steve Augustine was the first baton bearer for the territory and received the baton from Hon. Myron Walwyn to start the relay through communities in the VI in a succession of passes to baton bearers and participants.
National federation members for Rugby, Athletics, Volleyball, Squash, Triathlon, Skiing, Sailing, Football, Softball, Taekwondo, Tennis, and Swimming, Special Olympics, government departments, businesses, service clubs and the general public joined in the relays as runners, swimmers, sailors, and cyclists.
A small BBC crew led by presenter Mark Beaumont accompanied the QBR team in Tortola and conducted interviews with some of the territory’s athletes including track runner Karene King, squash player Joe Chapman, and the BVI Swimming Federation.
Relays and activities through the communities
The baton relay passed through Road Town, Lower Estate, with a lap at the A. O. Shirley Ground. The relay then ran through Capoon’s Bay, Apple Bay, Carrot Bay, and Cane Garden Bay before the baton and QBR team were transported by the RVIPF Police launch to Great Harbour in Jost Van Dyke, and to the BVI Spring Regatta at Nanny Cay.
Governor Boyd McCleary and Mrs. McCleary hosted a reception for the QBR team at Government House that evening. The BVIOC recognised specially invited guest, Commonwealth Games squash gold medalist, Joe Kneipp and also congratulated 11 year old, Keshawn Carey from First Impressions Primary School, as the winner of a Facebook BVIOC Glasgow 2014 pin design contest.
On the morning of Friday, April 4, the Premier hosted a welcome ceremony at the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour before the baton relay ran through the Valley and the Baths. The baton also visited Necker Island and the North Sound, before returning to Tortola. The final leg of the relay was cycled, and run through East End-Long Look to the H Lavity Stoutt Community College.
The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay officially ended its tour of the VI with the return of the baton to the QBR traveling team during a brief closing ceremony. As part of the ceremony, Mr. Louis Rosa released the granite gemstone from the top of the baton and gifted it to the BVI Olympic Committee as the local Commonwealth Games Association. The gemstone can be seen at the BVIOC office.
The programme for the closing ceremony included cultural performances and a culinary tasting of traditional Scottish fayre presented by the Culinary Arts Department at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College.
“The Queen’s Baton Relay is perhaps one of the most unifying events that we join in as a community in the spirit of friendship and pride,” said Mr. Ephraim Penn. “The BVIOC recognizes that the successful planning and execution of the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay depended on the dedicated involvement of the key stakeholders, supporters and volunteers. It was a true demonstration of the community coming together to showcase our sports, culture and hospitality.
“On behalf of the BVIOC, I would like to thank the community of the Virgin Islands for coming together and celebrating this historic occasion.”
The Queen’s Baton Relay will end in Glasgow, Scotland where the message will be removed from the baton and read out loud signifying the end of the relay and the start of the XX Commonwealth Games which take place from July 23 – August 5, 2014.
The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton and traveling team arrived in the Virgin Islands on Wednesday, April 2 from Anguilla. This was the third time that the Queen’s Baton Relay had been to the VI. The previous dates were in August 2005 and March 2010.
The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay visit comes under the BVIOC portfolio. Chaired by Chef de Mission XX Commonwealth Games, Mark Chapman, and led by event coordinator, Broadsword Communications, the Steering Committee comprised the BVIOC, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Premier and Sister Island coordinator, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the Department of Culture, the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and the BVI Tourist Board.
A full report on the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay in the VI can be found on http://bviolympics.org/?page_id=923.
Ends
Baton bearers
Baton bearers throughout the territory included Tarique Moses, Roslyn McMillan of the BVI Bank Association, Mr. Kyron McMaster, Governor Boyd McCleary in the company of Karene King and Joe Kneipp, Acting Premier Dr. the Hon. Kedrick Pickering, Joe Chapman, and Judine Lacey, Mr. Guy Hill, Hon. Mark Vanterpool, Roger Mathavious, Ryan Geluk, Rotary of Road Town, junior tennis player, Paul Oliver, Hon. Delores Christopher, Hon Myron Walwyn, and special needs children and adults, Shaquor Gumbs, Kimiya Matthais, Kayanna Parsons, Angelika Washington, Izara Frett running in the company of Hon. Andrew Fahie, Mr. Simon Potter of Roadtown Wholesale, Tafara Phillip, Ellie Henley, Pastor Melvin Turnbull, Henry Creque, Rotary of Tortola, Quito Rhymer, young swimmer, Giselle Archibald Bowers, Optimist sailor, Thad Lettsome, Glenford Gordon (Athens 2011 Special Olympics sailing silver medalist), Shea Alexander, Hon Archibald Christian, Chef Arique Flax, Kyle Harrigan, Khalid Stevens, Deborah Bruce, Victor & Victorix Sports Champs, Lenford Pope (Athens 2011 Special Olympics sailing gold medalist), Robinson O’Neal Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School, Erwin Telemaque, Dean Greenaway, Hon. Marlon Penn, Steve Asson,
Khiry Creque, Neil Smith, Dion Crabbe, Nelda Huggins, Kaleed Pickering, the Cycling Federation, Janette Brin of CCT, and HLSCC faculty and staff.
Media contact
Cleave Farrington, Executive Director BVIOC
Tel: 494 6920 | 542 1007 | Email: cmfarrington@bviolympics.org
Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay in the VI to debut at Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park
March 18, 2014 by
The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay will be introduced to the Virgin Islands at 9.00am on Thursday, April 3. Mr. Steve Augustine will bring in the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton at a public welcome ceremony at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park. Mr. Augustine represented the VI in athletics at the XV Commonwealth Games Victoria 1994 and at the XVII Commonwealth Games Manchester 2002.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is a symbolic event that heralds the Commonwealth Games and takes place every four years. It has been run since the 1958 games in Cardiff, Wales. The baton bears the Queen’s ‘message to the athletes’. When the baton ends its journey through the Commonwealth, it is returned to Her Majesty the Queen in the stadium. The message is removed and read aloud by HM to officially declare the Games open.
His Excellency Governor Boyd McCleary, Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith, and Honourable Myron Walwyn, Minister for Education, Culture and Sports, will play key roles in welcoming the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay to the territory. The occasion will incorporate Scottish bagpipes in recognition of the host country for the XX Commonwealth Games.
The ceremony will end when the Minister hands over the baton to the first baton bearers. They will represent the three sporting associations slated to participate in the XX Commonwealth Games. The members from the squash, swimming, and athletics associations will run from the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park to the Wickham’s Cay I roundabout. This will be the first leg of the series of symbolic relays through Tortola, Jost Van Dyke, and Virgin Gorda.
The BVI Olympic Committee, in its capacity as the local Commonwealth Games Association, is the host of the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay and encourages the public to participate in the relays.
“The baton relay routes are not too arduous,” said Ephraim Penn, president of the BVIOC. “Each leg is quite short and we have planned for the relay of the baton to pass through main communities and areas of historic significance. It’s a symbolic relay and we really want to see as many people join in either as runners or supporters.”
On Thursday, April 3, relays will pass through Road Town from 10:00am – 11.15am and will move to the First District. The Queen’s baton relay will then start at 11.45am from Capoon’s Bay, and run through Apple Bay and Carrot Bay. It will be driven to De Wedding from where the baton relay will be run through Cane Garden Bay. The relay route will end at the beach by the Methodist Church where swimmers from the BVI Swimming Association will escort the baton out to the Police launch for transportation to Jost Van Dyke.
Following a relay through Great Harbour at 2.30pm, Queen’s baton will be transported to the BVI Spring Regatta at Nanny Cay Resort & Marina where the Tortola Sloop, Intrepid will receive the baton and conduct a sail-by in the company of Optimist sailors.
At 8.30am on Friday, April 4, the Premier will welcome the relay to Virgin Gorda at the Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour. Relays will take place through the Valley, to the Baths and the Bregado Flax Educational Center. The baton will then return to Trellis Bay, Beef Island at 4.30pm. Relays will be cycled, run and walked through East End/Long Look to the HLSCC.
The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay will conclude its visit to the Virgin Islands at the HLSCC. There will be a cultural presentation featuring local and Scottish performers and a ‘Tasting under the Tent’ to showcase the cuisine of the VI and Scotland.
This is the third time that the relay will visit the VI. The first occasion was in August 2005. The VI will be the 54th country to be visited on the relay’s journey through 70 Commonwealth nations and Overseas Territories. The baton will arrive from Anguilla on April 2 and will depart for Jamaica on April 5.
The key stakeholders involved in organizing the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay events include the BVIOC, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Premier, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (to include the Departments of Culture, and Youth Affairs and Sports), the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, and the BVI Tourist Board. The event is supported by the BVI Red Cross, Foxy’s Bar, the Jost Van Dykes Preservation Society, and Rotary Club of Tortola.
The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay is sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports, the Ministry of Finance, CCT, BVI Bank Association, Roadtown Wholesale, San Bendetto, Powerade, and Harneys.
A detailed itinerary of the route can be found on www.bviolympics.org or can be requested from the BVIOC office. Contact Cleave Farrington on 542 1007.
