Community invited to 2nd annual Olympic Day Sports Festival

June 19, 2019 by
  • Archery at Olympic Day Sports Festival 2018
  • Tennis at Olympic Day Sports Festival 2018
  • Rugby at Olympic Day Sports Festival 2018 Photo: BVI Rugby Football Union

The BVI Olympic Committee, supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture through the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports will host its second annual Sports Festival at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds from 9:00am – 12:00pm on Saturday, June 22.

The Sports Festival, marking the globally celebrated international Olympic Day, aims to encourage the community to get physically active by promoting the Olympic message to “move, learn and discover”.

The morning will feature interactive stations set up by National Sporting Federations with opportunities for everybody of all ages and abilities to try out a sport. Adults and children alike will be able to test their skills and find out more about archery, athletics, basketball, football, rugby, sailing, softball/baseball, squash, swimming, taekwondo, tennis and volleyball with a view to finding a sport that ignites an interest and to get active in their daily life.

Recently trained Doping Control Officers (DCOs) will be on hand to explain more about anti-doping in sports. Information will be provided about the Long Term Athlete Development programme and the importance of incorporating physical activity as part of a regular routine to minimize the risks of non-communicable diseases. DYAS will also have information on its Summer programme for 13 – 18 year olds.

During the brief opening of the Sports Festival, the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley, the Minister for Education, Culture and Sports will recognize the major achievements of national athletes and teams as provided by the National Federations.

On this day, the Honourable Neville Smith, 1st VP of the BVIOC will also announce the senior athletes who have so far qualified to compete in the Lima 2019 Pan American Games which will take place in Peru from July 26 – August 11.

Free Olympic Day tee shirts will be handed out by the BVIOC as well as complimentary water, chilled courtesy of MBs Ice.

Olympic Day was established in 1948 as an annual occasion where everyone everywhere can get together in their communities to celebrate the Olympic values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship and also celebrate the Olympic Day pillars: Move. Learn. Discover.

Filed Under: Archery, Athletics, Basketball, BVI Olympic Committee, Lima 2019, LTAD, Olympic Day, PanAM Games, Regional Anti-Doping Organization, Rugby, Sailing, Softball-Baseball, Squash, Swimming, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball Tagged With: , ,

Opening ceremony and first event at Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games

October 9, 2018 by

BVI swimmer, Elinah Phillip (50m free & 50m fly) and Malik John (400m) at Buenos Aires 2018. Photo credit: BVIOC

Swimmer, Elinah Phillip was the face of the Virgin Islands when she served as flagbearer in the Opening Ceremony on October 6 at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She also was the first of the two VI athletes to compete in the third edition of the Games when she swam in the 50m butterfly (fly) heats on Tuesday, October 9.

Swimming in heat 5, Phillip touched the wall in a non-advancing time of 28.65 placing her 28/36. Her PB and national record of 27.31 in the 50m fly was achieved just 10 days previously at the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Phillip, who was slated to compete in the 100m freestyle (free) on Monday was advised by her coach, Benoit Grattepanche to omit the race from her schedule and concentrate instead on the 50m fly and 50m free. The decision was made following a technical meeting ahead of the event.

Her next race is heat 5 of 7 of the 50m free which will start at 10:30am (9:30am BVI time) on Thursday, October 11. Phillip’s qualifying time for this event is 26.14.

VI track athlete, Malik John will also be competing on Thursday, October 11 when he runs in the 400m heats at 5.15pm (4.15pm BVI time).

The events can be viewed live on the IOC Olympic Channel.

The athletes continue to be fully immersed in the culture and experience of the Youth Olympic Games as they follow Young Change Maker, Keanu George’s recommendations of activities to enjoy and international athletes to meet. George has been trained to facilitate the VI’s athletes’ participation in “learn & share” activities and encourages them to embrace the YOG spirit of Compete, Learn and Share.

“There is a packed agenda of daily events and activities for the athletes to be a part of,” said Cleave Farrington, Chef de Mission, Buenos Aires 2018. “Working with Keanu, I try to ensure that Elinah and Malik make the most of their time at the Youth Olympic Games, which is much more oriented to facilitating the principles of Olympism for their age group than the Olympic Games which is geared towards older and more experienced athletes. I am pleased to report that the athletes are definitely engaged and appreciating all that is on offer.”

Photos and updates are posted regularly on the BVI Olympic Committee’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Filed Under: Athletics, Buenos Aires news, BVI Olympic Committee, Swimming Tagged With: , , , ,

Elinah Phillip & Malik John to compete at Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games

October 1, 2018 by

Swimmer Elinah Phillip and track runner, Malik John will represent the VI at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina October 6 – 18.

Swimmer, Elinah Phillip and track athlete, Malik John will be representing the Virgin Islands at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The third edition of the Games will take place October 6 – 18.

Phillip who is 18 years old, will be competing in the 50m and 100m Freestyle and the 50m Butterfly. Her first event is the Women 100m Freestyle heat on October 8th.

This will be Malik John’s first attendance at the YOG. The 17 years old runner will be competing in the 400m with his heat on October 11th.

While this will be Phillip’s first YOG, she made her Olympic Games debut at age 16 when she swam in the 50m Freestyle at Rio 2016, becoming the VI’s first swimmer to compete at a Summer Games. Since then, she has competed successfully in several events in the UK and on the international circuit.

Phillip was a multiple medalist in the Swim England East Region and the winner of the Wilkinson Sword Award 2018, awarded annually for achievement in the sport of swimming.

Regionally, She scored a place in VI sporting history when she won 3 silver medals at the CARIFTA Swimming Championships 2018 in Kingston, Jamaica, March 31 – April 3. Her hat trick delivered a total of 10 medals won by her at CARIFTA, representing the most medals ever won by any BVI athlete in all CARIFTA sporting events.

Earlier this season, Phillip competed in 2 events at the British Summer National Championships held in Sheffield, UK from July 24 – 29, 2018. She reached the final in both events placing 5th and 7th and attaining a personal best and setting a VI national record in the process.

More recently, Phillip was a PanAm Sports Camp participant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida August 30 – September 11. The goal was for athletes throughout the Americas to develop, share experiences with other athletes and receive world-class training from renowned specialists in their sport.

Phillip then went on to compete in the FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 held in Eindhoven, Netherlands from September 28th -30th where she placed 5th in her 50m Butterfly heat with a time of 27.31 shaving 0.42 off her PB achieved a month previously and resetting the national record. Phillip also ranked 19/49 in the 50m freestyle with a time of 25.62 and she placed 27/49 in the 100m freestyle with a time of 57.00 before traveling to the Youth Olympic Games.

“I am really looking forward to racing, meeting athletes from around the world and experiencing Argentinian culture,” said Elinah Phillip.

Relative new comer to the bigger competitive stage, John started competing in track events in 2015 and has participated in the 2016 CUT Games, the 2017 and 2018 Carifta Games, the 2018 Golden South and the 2018 Barbados invitational.

He is a member of the Sprint Tech Track Club which falls under the umbrella of the National Federation BVI Athletics Association.

“I am very happy to have been selected as part of the BVI delegation to compete and experience Argentinian culture. I intend to represent the British Virgin Islands to the best of my abilities,” said Malik John.

In addition to the two athletes, Keanu George of the Valley, Virgin Gorda will attend the YOG as one of the 80 Youth Change Makers (YCM) from across the globe. Nominated by the BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC), George will be expected to facilitate the VI’s athletes’ participation in “learn & share” activities and encourage them to experience the YOG spirit of Compete, Learn and Share.

George is an Honors graduate of the Bregado Flax High Schoo. He obtained an Associate Degree in Computer, Graphic Information Technology at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC). He was an athlete of the Raw Skillz Track Club of Virgin Gorda and currently works at the Wright Choice Canteen as a Manager.

The VI delegation includes Cleave Farrington, Chef de Mission; Benoit Grattepanche, Swimming Coach; Tracy Bradshaw, swimming chaperone; Ralston Henry, Athletics Coach; and Ephraim Penn, President, BVIOC

Ephraim Penn congratulated the athletes on their achievements and selection. “This has been a phenomenal sports year for the Virgin Islands with incredible results achieved by our young and senior athletes competing regionally and globally. It is fitting that we close out 2018 with the participation of these two young athletes who represent hope for our continued success in major international Games. We look forward to supporting and encouraging them at Buenos Aires 2018,” said Mr. Penn.

Filed Under: Athletics, Buenos Aires news, Swimming Tagged With: , , , ,

Community joins BVIOC in celebrating Olympic Day with Sports Festival

June 28, 2018 by

Participants of the 2018 Olympic Day Sports Festival. Photo: CM Farrington/BVIOC

Olympic Day in the Virgin Islands hosted by the Olympic Committee kicked off on June 23 with an early morning run and walk. This was followed by a Sports Festival to mark the globally celebrated day which locally, took place at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds featuring several National Sporting Federations and their athletes.

Ephraim Penn, President of the BVIOC also used the occasion to hand over new equipment donated by PanAm Sports to benefit the track and field athlete members of the BVI Athletic Association. Kit included shot puts, discus, hammer, and electronic starting blocks.

Around 70 runners and walkers registered for the 6.30am 10km/5km run and 1 mile run/walk on Saturday with top finishers receiving special edition BVIOC shirts and bags as prizes. More people arrived at the recreation grounds and the multi sports complex mid-morning to watch demonstrations and try their hand in athletics, archery, basketball, football, rugby, tennis, and volleyball.

Mr. Penn summarized the activities and achievements of the national federations over the last 12 months and invited attending national federation representatives to provide additional information on their progress.

“The public may be forgiven for thinking that sports had been put on the back burner since the August floods and Hurricanes Irma and Maria,” said Mr. Penn. “However, this is not the case as illustrated by the National Federations’ reports of individual and team success. We are encouraged and excited that not only did the coaches and athletes show their resilience and determination to continue with their sports following the natural disasters, but they went on to win medals, titles and trophies and improve on their previous scores and times! Congratulations to all involved.”

Coaches from Athletics, Archery, Football, Rugby, and Tennis spoke on the recovery of their sports following the August floods and September hurricanes and encouraged attendees at the Sports Festival to join in their demo sessions taking place on the field. A 12-month review of the National Federation activities is set out below.

The morning set up included a 10,000 Step Challenge and an information booth on anti-doping. There were children’s bouncy castles courtesy of Digicel and Red Cross volunteers were on hand to ensure the safety of all participants. Roadtown Wholesale provided Dasani water, Powerade, Coca Cola and Sprite throughout the day.

Olympic Day was established in 1948 as an annual occasion where everyone everywhere can get together in their communities to celebrate the Olympic values of Respect, Excellence and Friendship and also celebrate the Olympic Day pillars: Move. Learn. Discover.

In his Olympic Day message to people around the world, IOC President, Thomas Bach said, “For the past 70 years, Olympic Day commemorates the founding modern Olympic Movement. Olympic Day reminds us that anyone, anywhere, can enjoy and benefit from sport. In our fast-changing society, Olympic Day is an excellent way to encourage all people to lead healthy and active lives and to promote the role of sport in society. Our thanks and gratitude go to the National Olympic Committees who are bringing sport and its values closer to the people through the many sporting, educational and cultural activities that are organized throughout the year. Thank you for encouraging people of all backgrounds and ability to get up and get moving, to discover sport and to embrace Olympic Values. ”

Photo: BVI Rugby Football Union

Junior tennis players. Photo; BVI Tennis Association

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review of National Federation Activity June 2017 – June 2018

BVI Athletics Association
2017 OECS Track & Field Championships – Team BVI won the Meet title.

2017 Commonwealth Youth Games – Djimon Gumbs placed third in the discus with a distance of 56.24 meters. Beyonce Defreitas placed second in the 200m with a time of 23.88 seconds.

2017 Diamond League Championships – Kyron McMaster won the event with a time of 48.07 seconds.

2017 World Championships – Chantel Malone placed 7th with a jump of 6.57 meters becoming the first BVI athlete making it to a final of a Major Championship Outdoor Meet

2018 Carifta Games – Rikkoi Brathwaite placed third in the 100m with a time of 10.46 seconds (BVI’s first medal in the male sprints in 41 years)

2018 Commonwealth Games – Chantel Malone placed 5th with a jump of 6.48 meters
Kyron McMaster won the event with a time of 48.25 seconds

Virgin Islands Archery Association
2017 – National Archery introduced in the schools’ program and 21 Students received scholarships of the $20K that was awarded in 2017. Participating schools included Cedar International School, Elmore Stoutt High School, Bregado Flax, Willard Wheatley, and Francis Lettsome Primary School.

The National Archery Team competed in Puerto Rico at the JEB Cup Developmental Championships and brought home 16 medals competing against 17 other countries (
5 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze).

2018 – After the departure of a few members of the team due to hurricane Irma, only 3 members of the National Archery Team traveled to the Dominican Republic in April to compete in their first world ranking event. The team missed the mark by 1 spot for the CAC Games.

BVI Football Association
2017 – At the Concacaf U 15 tournament, the national team won 8-2 v. Montserrat, 2-0 v. Anguilla, and 8-2 v. Turks & Caicos and finished 4th out of 16 in Division C.
January 2018 – Played in the Premier U 12 Tournament in Puerto Rico and finished 3rd having won 1, drawn 1, and lost 1.
2018 U 14 Flanders Cup in St. Martin – Finished 2nd having defeated the favourites Martinique and St. Martin teams to advance in the finals.

At the 2018 World Cup, Deshawn Richardson, 13 and 12 year old Ryan Ramlall attended the Gasprom F4F 2018 program in Moscow, Russia as a footballer and journalist respectively. The boys participated in 3-day camps which focused respectively in journalism and soccer. The culmination were interviews by Ryan getting published and Deshawn’s team, the Humpback Whales, making it to the semi-finals of the F4F championship. Both Ryan and Deshawn represented the BVI well.

BVIFA also have successfully conducted the Senior Men’s National League and the Primary and Secondary School Leagues.

BVI Rugby Football Union
Rugby is now back in the schools and training is in full swing for all men and women.
In April 2018, BVI won the Kowloon 10s RugbyFest in Hong Kong.
In May 2018, the national team represented in an international match against Turks and Caicos Islands in the TCI.

Royal BVI Yacht Club
BVI youth sailing is ongoing at Nanny Cay Marina.
Thad Lettsome, representing the BVI at the 47th Youth Sailing World Championships in Sanya, China in December 2017 finished in 33rd position in the Laser Radial Class.
The RBVIYC hosted the annual Manhattan Yacht Club Trophy in February, the annual BVI Spring Regatta in April and the 2018 BVI Dinghy Championships in May.

BVI Squash Rackets Association
A new coach will start the squash program in July. Joe Chapman and Neville Sorrentino competed at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Joe won the Plate.
The VI team competed in the annual OECS Squash Championships in St. Vincent and the Grenadines in May.

BVI Swimming Association
Elinah Phillip won 3 silver medals in the 50m Fly, 50m Freestyle, and 200m Freestyle at the Carifta Swimming Championships held in Jamaica in April.

BVI Tennis Association
Tennis programme is ongoing at the East End Tennis Courts.
Deandrea Baijnauth competed in the C. O. Williams COTECC U14s International Junior Tennis Tournament in Barbados in April.
Three juniors competed in the 6th annual Caribbean 12 & Under Junior Invitational Tennis Tournament in Antigua in May.
The association successfully hosted open tennis days for Mothers’ Day and World Tennis Day.

Virgin Islands Volleyball Association
The association organised the 2 on 2 male and female Beach volleyball tournament which concluded earlier in June.

Filed Under: Archery, Athletics, Basketball, BVI Olympic Committee, Football, Rugby, Sailing, Squash, Swimming, Tennis, Volleyball Tagged With: , ,

Elinah Phillip wins hat trick of silver medals at 2018 Carifta Swimming Championships

April 4, 2018 by

Source: BVI Swimming Association

Elinah Phillip scored a hat trick with 3 silver medals won in the 50m Freestyle (26.29), 50m Fly (28.29) and the 100 Free (58.98) at the 2018 Carifta Swimming Championships, Jamaica. Photo: Proviced

Swimmer Elinah Phillip competing at the 23rd Carifta Swimming Championships in Jamaica completed her events in the Girls 15-17 years category with podium finishes in all three.

Elinah’s first race was the 50m Butterfly in which she placed 2nd with a time of 28.29 seconds. Chade Nersicio, Curacao took 1st (28.00) and Shaun Johnson, Jamaica came 3rd (28.52).

Elinah went on to win her second silver medal in the 100m Freestyle in 58.98 seconds.

The VI swimmer rounded up her 2018 Carifta appearance with her third silver medal when she placed 2nd in the 50m Freestyle with a time of 28.29 second.

The 2018 Carifta Swimming Championships took place March 15 – April 4, 2018.

Elinah, a Virgin Islander who lives and trains in the UK, has represented the VI in major games including the Youth and Senior Commonwealth Games, and the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games where she was the first swimmer to represent the territory at the Olympics.

Filed Under: Swimming Tagged With: , ,

Queen’s Baton Relay leads BVI athletes to Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games

June 21, 2017 by

BVI athletes, tennis coach and Chef for the Bahamas 2017 Copmmonwealth Youth Games with the BVI Commonwealth Games Association, Mrs. Brenda Lettsome-Tye for the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, and Mrs. Angeleta Bernard, Chef for the previous youth games in Delhi, Isle of Man, and Samoa. Photo: BVIOC

The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) in its capacity as the Commonwealth Games Association (BVICGA) introduced the itinerary and route of the upcoming Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay which heralds that start of the quadrennially held Commonwealth Games and announced the 8 young athletes that will be attending the Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games.

The BVI delegation to the Bahamas 2017 CYG (July 18 – 23) was introduced by Ms. Sabinah Clement, Chef de Mission for the Games at a media briefing at the BVIOC office on Monday, June 19.

The BVI team comprises Arianna Hayde (Long Jump and Javelin), Rackeel Jack (400m), Joshua Hill (400m), Mikkel Bassue (100m and 200m), Beyonce Defreitas (200m), Djimon Gumbs and Diamante Gumbs (both competing in Shot Put and Discus), and Adrian Baijnauth (Tennis). The team will be accompanied by Track Coach, Willis Todman, Field Coach, Omar Jones and Tennis Coach, Malcolm Dabre.

The athletes will take part in the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay when it tours through the communities of Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda in a series of public activities and relays planned for Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4, 2017.

“The Queen’s Baton Relay is a unifying event that invites members of the Commonwealth and the Overseas Territories to showcase their country, culture, hospitality, communities, and sports. It is a unique event and an occasion for all who reside in the BVI to come together in the spirit of friendship and unity and we strongly urge everyone to make an effort to join in where they can,” said Mr. Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Commonwealth Games Association.

The full programme starts with the official welcome reception on Monday, July 3 from 9.00am to 10.00am at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park when the baton is officially handed over to the Premier and the Virgin Islands.

The public relay will then start with the first baton bearer on a route through Road Town to take in the Tortola Pier Park, Waterfront Drive, Queen Elizabeth Park, Old Government House, the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly, Sir Olva Georges Plaza, Main Street, Botanic Station and ending at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground.

The baton will then be driven to the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School in Sea Cow’s Bay where the students will be back at school with a short presentation to welcome the QBR.

The relay will then continue to Manuel Reef and the baton will be sailed to Nanny Cay aboard a Tortola Sloop and a flotilla of dinghies. At 3.00pm the relay will pass through Cane Garden Bay from De Wedding heading east to Quito’s.

A relay supported by residents will pass through Great Harbour at 4.00pm before the baton is transported back to Tortola.

On Wednesday, July 4, the Deputy Premier will speak at a public welcome ceremony at the Walters Recreation Park, Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda from 9.00am – 10.00am. The baton then will be handed over for a relay through the Valley up to the Baths. All residents of Virgin Gorda and Anegada are encouraged to participate.

The baton will arrive back to Tortola at 4.30pm where it will be received by cyclists at Trellis Bay and ridden across the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and handed over for a relay on foot through Long Look, the Sticket and East End and end at the Greenlands Playing Field.

A cultural presentation by traditional musicians, dancers and performers to include performances by the Australian resident community will form part of the official closing ceremony starting at 6:00pm at the Central Administration Complex. The evening will end with music and local food and refreshments on sale.

The key stakeholders involved in the planning and hosting of events include the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Premier, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports including the Departments of Culture, and Youth Affairs and Sports, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, the BVI Tourist Board and GIS.

Event sponsors include the Government of the Virgin Islands, the BVI Bank Association – Banco Popular, CIBC FirstCaribbean, FirstBank, National Bank of the Virgin Islands and VP Bank – Premier Dental, Harneys, Meridian Construction, BVI Painters, Road Town Wholesale, Eureka Medical and Bougainvillea Clinic.

National Federations, schools, and Community and Social Groups will be supporting the event in the form of volunteers and participation in the relays as they pass through various districts.

The baton, which contains the message from the Queen to the athletes competing in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia in April 2018, and international crew will arrive from Anguilla on Saturday, July 1 at 7.00pm and will depart for Jamaica on Wednesday, July 5, 2017.

The last time the Queen’s Baton Relay toured the BVI was ahead of the Glasgow 2014 games.

More information can be found on www.bviolympics.org. Anyone who wishes to volunteer or who would like more information on the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay event in the VI can contact the BVI Olympic Committee on 496 6007.

Filed Under: Archery, Athletics, Basketball, BVI Olympic Committee, Cycling, Football, Gold Coast 2018 News, Rugby, Sailing, Softball-Baseball, Squash, Swimming, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball Tagged With: , , ,

Queen’s Baton Relay returns to the BVI for fourth time

May 17, 2017 by

Kyron McMaster carries the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton in a relay leg through Road Town in April 2014.

The Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay (GC2018 QBR) is on its journey through the 71 Commonwealth nations and territories as it heralds the start of the quadrennial Commonwealth Games which will be held in Australia in 2018.

The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC), in its capacity as the BVI Commonwealth Games Association (BVICGA), will host the Relay in the British Virgin Islands when the Baton and traveling crew arrive from Anguilla on Saturday, July 1, 2017 until they depart for Jamaica on Wednesday, July 5.

There will be two days of community-oriented activity as the relay passes through Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4, 2017.

“Although called a relay, running is not central to the QBR and the activities planned through Road Town, Sea Cow’s Bay, Cane Garden Bay, Great Harbour in Jost Van Dyke, The Valley, Virgin Gorda and East End/Long Look will be accessible to people of all ages and abilities,” said Mr. Ephraim Penn, President BVIOC/BVICGA.

The GC2018 Queen’s Baton was designed by Queensland-based Designworks and incorporates Macadamia wood which is native to the Gold Coast, LED

The Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton

illumination which lights up when held, a Queen’s message window and GPS to track the Baton in real time.

Working with key stakeholders, the BVICGA organizing committee has planned a relay route and activities that will showcase to the world the VI’s residents, its sports-men, -women and -children, its beauty, culture, diversity and hospitality.

The Delhi 2010 Queen’s Baton makes a stop at the Elmore Stout High School in March 2010.

“This is definitely a community event and we are delighted to have the support of the Governor’s Office, the Government of the Virgin Islands and its Departments of Education, Culture and Sports, the BVI Tourist Board and the Royal BVI Police Force as well as the Australian community in the planning and execution,” said Mr. Penn. “We also invite businesses to join private sector entities, the BVI Bank Association, Premier Dental, Harneys and RTW in sponsoring this unifying initiative.”

Everyone is encouraged to participate in all the relays and public activities which will include an official ‘Welcome’ ceremony on July 3, relays involving the spectrum of sporting associations and a grand cultural finale on July 4 showcasing the traditions, music and culinary treats from the VI and Australia as organized by the resident Australian community members.

The Relay started at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day, March 13, 2017. At the commencement ceremony, HM Queen Elizabeth II placed Her message to the athletes in to the Baton which will pass through the hands of the many batonbearers who will carry it around the Commonwealth.

Covering 142,915 miles in 388 days, the Queen’s Baton Relay will be the longest in Commonwealth Games history traveling to more than one third of the world’s

population. It engages communities and provides a platform for thousands of people to ‘share the dream’ ahead of the quadrennial celebration of Commonwealth sport from April 4 – 15, 2018.

The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will embody the values of the Commonwealth Games Federation – Humanity, Equality and Destiny and build upon the event’s reputation as the ‘Friendly Games’ and the integral role sport plays in uniting and strengthening communities.

Get more information on the GC2018 QBR.

 

 

Filed Under: Archery, Athletics, Basketball, Cycling, Football, Gold Coast 2018 News, Rugby, Sailing, Softball-Baseball, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball Tagged With: , ,

The Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay in the BVI

May 16, 2017 by

Join in and share the dream of the Gold Coast 2018 Queen’s Baton Relay when it tours through your community in Tortola, Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4, 2017.

Click here to read the itinerary and route of the Baton in the BVI.

For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact Sofia Fay by email at sofia@broadswordpr.com or by ‘phone on (284) 541 7845 or Cleave Farrington by email at cmfarrington@bviolympics.org or by ‘phone on (284) 494 6920.

Images of the Dheli 2010 and Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relays in the BVI

 

Filed Under: Archery, Athletics, Basketball, Cycling, Football, Gold Coast 2018 News, Rugby, Sailing, Softball-Baseball, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Uncategorized, Volleyball Tagged With: , , ,

Two silver medals for Phillip at XXXII Carifta Swimming Championships

April 21, 2017 by

By BVI Swim Federation

Elinah Phillip won two silver medals representing the British Virgin Islands at the 32nd Carifta Swimming Championships held in the Bahamas April 15-19, 2017. Photo: BVI Swim Federation

Elinah Phillip won two silver medals representing the British Virgin Islands at the 32nd Carifta Swimming Championships held in the Bahamas April 15-19, 2017. Photo: BVI Swim Federation

Elinah Phillip won two silver medals representing the British Virgin Islands at the 32nd Carifta Swimming Championships held in the Bahamas April 15-19, 2017.

Elinah competed in three events, the 50 butterfly, 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.

She came in second in the 50 meter butterfly race on April 16 ending the race with a new personal best and national record time of 28.13s.

On April 18, Elinah took the silver medal in the 50 meter freestyle with a time of 26.67. Prior to that race, she had placed 5th in the 100 meter freestyle with a season’s best of 59.30 in the heats and a time of 59.62 in the final.

Elinah’s medal winning times rank her 3rd and 4th respectively in the Great Britain rankings for her age group to date.

The regional meet which is the premier age group competition in the region, attracted the participation of athletes from 26 different countries

Filed Under: Swimming Tagged With: , ,

BVI swimmers shine at Virgin Islands Short Course Swim Meet

February 10, 2017 by

By BVI Swim Federation

BVI Swim Federation swimmers from the Makos Swim Club (L to R) Coach Elworth Phillip, Arianna Angus, Khadijah Sampson, Kassia Nichols, Jaden Marshall, Kurt Salapare at the Virgin Islands Short Course Meet, St Thomas. Photo: BVI Swim Federation

Five Makos Swim Club Swimmers started their 2017 swim year with stellar performances at the USVI Birthday Bash Swim Meet on 28 January 2017.

Competing for Team BVI were Jaden Marshall, Khadijah Sampson, Kassia Nichols, Kurt Salapare, Arianna Angus. This was an open meet where all swimmers competed in mixed age group events.

Coach Elsworth Phillip said he was happy with the way the swimmers performed at this event simply based on the fact that the young swimmers had an opportunity to compete against older, stronger swimmers in mixed events. “Meets like these provide an opportunity for our swimmers to compete for better times as they are being pushed by stronger swimmers.”

Notable results for BVI Swimmers
Makos male swimmers showing great progress were Jaden Marshall swam 43.92” in the 50m breaststroke beating Kurt Salapare by a small margin of 0.65” to win the event. Not to be outdone by his teammate, Kurt Salapare sprinted to 1:11.08 in the 100 freestyle, the fastest time for a BVI male swimmer in this event.

Khadijah Sampson continues her dominance as the Virgin Islands top 9 to 10 year old female swimmer by winning three of the four events she competed in.

Events and Results:

50m Free

100m Free

200m Free

50m Fly

100m Fly

50m Breast

100m Breast

50m Back
Jaden Marshall

32.26

40.87

43.92
Kurt Salapare

32.46

1:11.08

44.57

1:35.54
Khadijah Sampson

39.97

1:32.45

3:23.12

53.41
Kassia Nichols

34.19

42.87

1:44.44

44.43
Arianna Angus

1:27.02

38.35

 1:36.69

45.13
Filed Under: Swimming Tagged With: , , ,
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