Caribbean RADO Gets New Chairman, Directors

June 4, 2019 by
Caribbean RADO Executive Committee members 2019
Newly elected Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO) Executive Committee members (l-r) Director, Mr. Ephraim Penn (British Virgin Islands), Vice-President, Dr. Adrian Lorde (Barbados), Chairman, Mr. Patrick Werleman (Aruba), Director, Dr. Karen Pilgrim (Guyana), Director, Mr. Joel Johnson (Grenada) pose at the close of the 14th Annual Board Meeting held in the BVI from June 1 – 2, 2019.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Caribbean RADO Tagged With: , , , , ,

Panam Sport Development Commission meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica

April 17, 2019 by
Ashley Kelly – Virgin Islands (UK)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Panam Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Athletes will feel at home at Lima 2019

April 1, 2019 by
The VIDENA sports complex is one of the multiple sports venues which will be used during the Lima 2019 Pan American and Parapan American Games. It includes the velodrome, athletics stadium and warm-up track, an aquatics centre with three pools, a 24-lane bowling alley, an indoor sports arena, plus an upgraded administration building and the Lima 2019 Control Centre. Photo: Lima 2019

With just under four months to go until the Games begin, the construction of the Pan American and Parapan American Games Village, located in Villa El Salvador, Lima, has been completed ahead of schedule. The village is now ready to welcome athletes, Para athletes and technical officials who will travel to Peru in July 2019 to compete in the Pan Am Games.

The Fields of Play have already been established for the majority of the sports at Villa Maria del Triunfo and VIDENA sports complexes that will each host multiple sports during the Games.

Kyron McMaster automatically qualified to compete in Lima 2019 when he won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2018 Central American Caribbean (CAC) Games in August 2018. Eldred Henry’s recent record-setting achievements during the 2019 indoor and outdoor season have also qualified him for the Games.

With qualifying meets and competitions now underway, the BVI Olympic Committee anticipates additional athletes from track and field, swimming and sailing to qualify over the coming months.

The Pan Am Games is the largest multi sport event in the Americas and while the Virgin Islands is one of two countries yet to win a medal at these games, we are very optimistic of our chances at Lima 2019,” said Mr. Ephraim Penn, President of the BVI Olympic Committee.

President of Lima 2019, Carlos Neuhaus said that “Lima 2019 will be a sporting and, at the same time, a cultural festival that will allow Peru to be seen by the eyes of the world. In our capacity as host, we will offer athletes sports infrastructure with quality standards and a cultural program of equal quality. The success of the Games will be the great experience that athletes and visitors will be able to have, and the legacy left for Peruvians.”

About the Pan American Games
The Pan American Games (Pan Am Games) is a major sporting event in the Americas featuring a variety of summer sports in which athletes from nations of the Americas compete every four years in the year before the Summer Olympic Games. The 2019 Pan Am and Parapan American Games will take place in Lima, Peru in July and August.

The opening ceremony of the Lima 2019 Pan American Games will be held at the National Stadium on July 26, 2019. This continental event will gather 6680 athletes from 41 countries and delegations from the Americas.

There will be 17 days of competitions and ceremonies, between July 26 and August 11, 2019, which will take place in 14 districts of Lima and Callao at various venues such as VIDENA, Villa María del Triunfo Sports Center, Callao Regional Village, Villa El Salvador Sports Center, Punta Rocas, among others.

The Lima 2019 Pan American Games will include 39 sports and 62 disciplines, where athletes will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. A total of 23 disciplines are qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The Parapan American Games will gather 1890 Para athletes from 33 countries, participating in 17 sports and 18 disciplines. Competitions will take place between August 23 and September 1, 2019. Fourteen sports quotas for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will be granted.

On March 27, 2019, the Panam sports Executive Committee agreed that Cali, the “capital of sport” in Colombia will host the first Junior Pan American Games for young athletes in 2021.

About Panam Sports
Panam Sports (formerly known as Pan American Sports Organization – PASO) is the governing body of the Pan American Games and its structure and actions are defined by the Olympic Charter. Panam Sports is the leader of sports and the Olympic Movement in the Americas and encourages the sports development and supports the work of the 41 National Olympic Committees members, in order to inspire more world-class performances and the next generation of athletes across our region.

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French windsurf Olympic gold medalist sailing through the VI

February 5, 2019 by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

January 21, 2019 by

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

November 28, 2018 by

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

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

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

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

Tokyo, the host city of the general assembly, is the location of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games and IOC President Thomas Bach was welcomed by Yoshiro Mori, President of the Organising Committee Tokyo 2020, at the Tokyo 2020 headquarters earlier today.
Speaking to more than 200 members of the Tokyo 2020 team, President Bach told them how impressed he was by the progress he had seen in the preparations: “I cannot remember any Olympic city being so advanced as Tokyo is, two years before the Games.”

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

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

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

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

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

 

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Tokyo 2020 Tagged With: , , , ,

New running track surface for A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground en route

November 16, 2018 by

Facilitated by BVIOC with funds secured from PanAm Sports

A.O. Shirley Recreations Grounds – post Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Photo: CM Farrington/BVIOC

A new surface for the running track at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground in Road Town, Tortola is expected to arrive into the Virgin Islands around November 19. The resurfacing material, supplied by Mondo USA, was purchased by the BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) with funds secured from PanAm Sports to repair the track which was damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.

Mondo USA was one of two agencies specialising in track surfaces engaged by PanAm Sports to assess the damage to the track at the A.O. Shirley Grounds. The other agency was Beynon Sports and Mondo USA was awarded the contract after PanAm Sports reviewed the two agencies’ reports following their visits to the VI in January and after consulting with the BVIOC.

“PanAm Sports has been exceptionally responsive to the request from the BVIOC for assistance with the rebuild of sports in the Virgin Islands after Hurricanes Irma and Maria,” said Ephraim Penn, President, BVIOC.

Following the destruction of sports facilities in the VI caused by the 2017 storms, Mr. Penn had communicated with various resources at Olympic level to request assistance with the rebuild of facilities and sports in the territory. PanAm Sports subsequently set up a special fund to assist those territories affected by the hurricanes.

“I am particularly impressed and grateful for the support and encouragement that we have received and continue to receive from Mr. Neven Ilic, President of PanAm Sports and his staff,” said Mr. Penn. “The appreciation from athletes and sporting bodies who are benefitting from their help is palpable and as the National Olympic Committee, we are excited to see the tangible and positive steps towards the reinstatement of sports in the Virgin Islands.”

The BVIOC has also secured partial funding from PanAm Sports to assist with the repairs to the recreation ground facilities and perimeter walls which were destroyed during the hurricanes. The grounds and facilities are used by schools and sporting associations including Athletics, Rugby and Football.

The Recovery and Development Agency in consultation with the BVIOC, the BVI Athletic Association, the Ministry for Education, Culture and Sports and the Recreational Trust will oversee the rebuild of the A.O. Shirley Grounds including the bidding process and engagement of contractors for the installation and repairs to the facilities.

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

October 30, 2018 by

By Virgin Islands Softball – Baseball Association

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Filed Under: BVI Olympic Committee, Softball-Baseball Tagged With: , , ,

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: , , , ,

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: , ,
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