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: , ,

VI athletes ready for Flow Carifta Games Bahamas 2018

March 29, 2018 by

By BVI Athletics Association

BVI’s athletes for the 2018 Flow Carifta Games stand behind officials (l-r) Ralston Henry – Athlete Representative, Nadia James-Harris – Flow Marketing and Communication Manager, Steve Augustine – BVI Athletics Association President, Brenda Lettsome-Tye – Director of Youth Affairs and Sports (Ag.), Ephraim Penn – BVI Olympic Committee President. Photo: Cleave Farrington/BVIAA

The British Virgin Islands Athletics Association introduced the athletes who will be competing at the 47th Flow Carifta Games to be held in Bahamas from March 30 – April 2, 2018. The announcement was made at a press conference held on Monday, March 26th 2018 at the BVI Arbitration Centre, Ritter House, Tortola.

The following athletes have been selected based on their performance:
Track and Field athletes includes under 17 Female: Xiomara Malone (100m Hurdles, High Jump and Long Jump), Zara Brown (100m and 200m) and Akrisa Eristee (200m and 400m). Under 17 Male: Malik John (200m and 400m) and Jaleel Croal (100m and 200m). Under 20 Female: Beyonce Defreitas (100m and 200m), Arianna Hayne (Long Jump) and Akira Phillip (Javelin). Under 20 Male: Rikkoi Brathwaite (100 and 200m), Joshua Hill (200m and 400m), Djimon Gumbs (Shot put and Discus) and Diamante Gumbs (Shot put and Discus).

Officials attending the Games include Stephanie Russ-Penn, Team Manager; Coaches Karene King, Cliff Williams and Erwin Telemaque; Chester “Levi” James, Team Physio and Cleave Farrington, Press.

Commenting to the athletes on their selection, Mrs. Brenda Lettsome-Tye – Director of Youth Affairs and Sports (Ag.), who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Education, Culture and Sports Hon. Myron V. Walwyn congratulated all the athletes that have qualified for the games. She further stated that the Minister extended his congratulations to the coaches and parents. She said “Honourable Walwyn is very excited and pleased that the Virgin Islands was able to field a team at the Carifta Games, especially after all that we have been through with the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria and we will continue to have his support. We are a resilient people and we expect nothing but the very best from you. We expect you to continue to be BVI strong and we expect you to bring back medals again.”

BVI Olympic Committee President, Ephraim Penn congratulated athletes on being selected noting further that Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused severe damage to sporting facilities in the VI resulting in the set back of the progress of sports in the territory, Mr. Penn said, “We recognize the effort, determination and perseverance required by the athletes to stay on track despite the challenges that they faced from the impact of the storms on their homes, their families and not least, the tragic loss of Athletics head coach, Dag Samuels”.

Mr. Penn thanked the BVI Government for working with the BVIOC to get sports to this stage, he also thanked the BVIAA President, Steve Augustine, Flow, Puma and especially the parents of the athletes.

Mr. Penn said “the BVI Olympic Committee stands committed to help in the development of sport and in particular, track and field. We have sponsored the team this year for US$20,000, in addition, a shipment of track and field equipment has arrived in the territory from Panam Sports and to top it off, a contract between Mondo and Panam Sports is in the final stage for the replacement of the track surface at the A.O. Shirley Grounds. Our job is to make sure your job is easy. You put in the work. It’s our responsiblity to make sure things are in place to help you succeed.”

In closing Mr. Penn reminded Athletes that they are subject to anti-doping testing at the games.

Mrs. Nadia James-Harris, Flow Marketing and Communication Manager in her remarks congratulated all the athletes. Flow is the title sponsor of the annual Carifta Games for the third consecutive year. Ms. James-Harris stated that “Flow invests in Caribbean dreams as the best and brightest display of talents by Caribbean Athletes.”

She encourages all to follow the games in Flow Sports and identify BVI as your favourite team with #FlowCarifta. To the athletes, Mrs James-Harris said “We are confident that you are going to go faster, you are going to go further, and you are going to go higher and make us all proud and bring home some medals as you always do.”

Mrs. James-Harris presented 4 handsets to the BVI Athletics Association to assist the team during the Games with activated 7 Day Prepaid Combo Plans.

Additional contributions from Flow include:
• Featuring the BVI Delegation athletes through a series of 30 second videos of the athletes in training, or talking about their experiences preparing for the games
• Engaging the BVIAA and Carifta athletes in a radio interview on ZBVI
• Hosting a Carifta Games Watch Party – Sunday April 1st, 2018 at Mulligan’s 4 p.m. (all invited)

BVIAA President, Mr. Steve Augustine in his remarks made mention that Puma is now the BVI’s Track and Field official sponsor to outfit the national team competing at all international and regional events.

Puma has sponsored BVI world-ranked athletes, Kyron McMaster (400m Hurdler), and Chantel Malone (Long Jump) who have recently signed individual deals with the sportswear company. “This is certainly not the first time that Puma has sponsored the BVI Track Athletes,” said Mr. Augustine. As documented by Mr. Rey O’Neal, Mr. Augustine read “Puma outfitted the British Virgin Islands’ first Olympic team to Los Angeles in 1984 as well as competitors at the 1987 and 1991 World Championships in Athletics. Members of the first Olympic group still resident in the Territory include track and field athletes, Dean Greenaway, Guy Hill, and Lindel Hodge, sailors, Dr. Robin Tattersall, Keith Thomas, and Elvet Meyers, and team officials, Rey O’Neal, and Hon. Mark Vanterpool.”

Mr. Augustine commended the late Xavier ‘Dag’ Samuels who was instrumental with the PUMA deal for BVI Athletics. He said “Part of the reason we are here in Puma gear today had a great deal to do with the drive Coach Samuels brought to the table.”

In his closing remarks. Mr. Augustine reflected on past Carifta games’ medalists and made mention of the numerous athletes that have benefited in athletics scholarship for tertiary level education through the BVI Athletics and reinforced the importance of BVI Government investment into track and tield athletes.

The official opening ceremony of the Flow Carifta Games is set for Friday, March 30th at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas starting at 6 p.m. Competition begins on Saturday, March 31st until Monday, April 2nd, 2018.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , , ,

Track & Field family to help clean up A. O. Shirley Ground

December 8, 2017 by

Source: BVISports.com

The A.O. Shirley Recreation ground suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Irma. Photo: BVISports.com

President of the VI Athletics Association, Mr. Steve Augustine has organized the Track and Field family to lend a helping hand to the ongoing clean-up of the A.O. Shirley Ground, this Saturday, December 9.

According to Augustine, the Track and Field family will be out in numbers to continue with the clean-up in order to get their new season of 2018 Development Meets underway in nicer, safer conditions.

“The Track and Field family is very large and we will have a wealth of persons out there to assist. We will have bins and 3 yard trucks on site to take care of the larger items, like the mangled stands and the smaller items that have been scattered around we are just going to tidy up, so hopefully in a few weeks-time there will be some nice grass around the edges ahead of the Development Meets for 2018,” said Augustine.

Public Works and the City Manager’s office had begun the process and put a lot of time and effort into getting the grounds back to a usable state and now the Track and Field family will add its efforts.

Augustine has also made sure the IAAF, the association’s governing body, is aware of the issues as well as other regional bodies.

President of the BVI Olympic Committee, Mr. Ephraim Penn stated that funding has been found to replace the track surface.

“We are tapping into various resources at Olympic level to see how we can help rebuild and restart many of our member sports and one thing we have been able to secure is funding from Pan Am Sports, which used to be PASO, to have Mondo replace the entire track.”

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

14 Caribbean countries send coaches for CANOC CCCP training in British Virgin Islands

October 13, 2016 by

 

Participants from 14 countries at the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committee (CANOC) Caribbean Coaching Certification Program (CCCP) Training of Trainers Workshop in the British Virgin Islands. Photo: BVIOC

Participants from 14 countries at the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committee (CANOC) Caribbean Coaching Certification Program (CCCP) Training of Trainers Workshop in the British Virgin Islands. Photo: BVIOC

The BVI Olympic Committee is proud to host seventeen participants from 14 countries at Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committee (CANOC) Caribbean Coaching Certification Program (CCCP) Training of Trainers Workshop in Tortola starting from 9.15am this morning.

The C.C.C.P Training of Trainer’s Workshop which will run through Saturday, October 15, has attracted participants from countries of Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Bahamas, Caymans, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Guadeloupe, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.

The Caribbean Coaching Certification Program, C.C.C.P. has been in existence since 1998, and to date has trained and certified more than 800 coaches across the region.

The Coach Theory Course is designed to equip the Coach and Sport Leader with a strong theoretical base to accompany his or her practical skills. The Course is 20 hours duration, designed to be completed over an extended weekend. The Manual is divided into 10 Modules, under the following topics:

• The Role of the Coach
• The Coach as a Leader
• Developing Skills
• Fitness
• Nutrition
• Safety, Injury and Recovery
• Planning Training Sessions and Programmes
• Event Planning and Management
• Sport Not Drugs
• Sport for Persons with Disabilities

The CCCP Coach Theory Courses have been widely accepted across the region and have served to improve the overall Caribbean Coaching base in many territories.

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

Third Physical Literacy workshop to help develop youth in sports

September 27, 2016 by
Group work at the launch of the Long Term Athlete Development and Physical Literacy workshop in February 2016. Photo: BVIOC

Group work at the launch of the Long Term Athlete Development and Physical Literacy workshop in February 2016. Photo: BVIOC

The third Physical Literacy workshop is underway, running from September 27 – 28 at the Fort Burt Hotel Conference room.

The workshop, organized by the BVI Olympic Committee and conducted by Drew Mitchell, Director of Physical Literacy for the Sport for Life Society in Canada, is directed at sports coaches and representatives of the territory’s national sport federations as well as day-care and pre-school teachers and managers, health care providers and elderly care givers.

“Physical literacy is the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life.” – The International Physical Literacy Association, May 2014

Research shows that without the development of Physical Literacy, many children and youth withdraw from physical activity and sport and turn to more inactive and/or unhealthy choices during their leisure time.

Miss Beverlie Brathwaite, an Education Officer attached to the Ministry of Education sees Physical Literacy as a positive vehicle to champion the cause for a healthier nation and success in the classroom.

“Just as there are basic skills in literacy and numeracy which, when mastered, help students to become competent and motivated, we now know that there are basic skills in movement which have the same effect on students’ confidence, competence and motivation. Also, since there is growing research evidence of the positive link between physical activity and academic success, we see this exposure to Physical Literacy as a gateway to both healthy lives and academic success for our students.”

This workshop aims to also give assistance to the selected sports of Football, Rugby, Tennis, Sailing, Basketball, Athletics, Archery and Swimming as they continue the task to complete a Long Term Athlete Development pathway for their sport.

The first session took place in February and covered the key factors pertinent to athlete development and the 5 basic ‘S’s of training and performance – Stamina (Endurance), Strength, Speed, Skill, and Suppleness (Flexibility).

The second session, which took place in May, focused on discussing the project outlines in the areas of Sport, Health and Education that followed on from the first workshop.

The Physical Literacy Workshops are supported by the Sport for Life Society of Canada, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health.

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

Behind the Scenes at Rio 2016 with Tahesia Harrigan-Scott

August 12, 2016 by
Tahesia Harrigan-Scott taking stock of the track. Photo: BVIOC

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott taking stock of the track. Photo: BVIOC

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott is looking relaxed as the veteran Olympian of the British Virgin Islands’ team of four competing at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. She is on her way to the Maracana training ground, adjacent to the stadium where she will be competing on August 12.

Rio 2016 is Tahesia’s third Olympic Games and where she will run the 100m.

It’s an evening training session and the track is active with athletes from all nations, including Grenada’s 400m Gold medalist, Kirani James, running drills.

Tahesia sips her pre-work out drink before she starts her routine of waking up her muscles with stretching exercises.

“Tonight I’ll be keeping it light with some starts, block work, and sprints,” she says. “So I’ll be taking off from the blocks for 10 and 20 meters and also do a couple of 100m and 110m sprints.”

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott concentrates on the task ahead. Photo: BVIOC

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott concentrates on the task ahead. Photo: BVIOC

She moves on to the track where she joins her training partners representing Haiti, Cayman, and Nigeria. Under the observant eye of coach and husband, Joey Scott, Tahesia goes through her sets of leg work – a series of fast, high-knee hops, skips and strides – which will fire up her muscles and trigger limb-placement memory for optimal results.

“At this point all the work is done,” says Coach Scott. “There’s nothing I can say to her or tell her now that’s going to have an impact. It’s all up to her and what we do at competition training is just fine tuning.”

The banter on the track is light and friendly but concentration on the tasks at hand is unwavering.

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott measuring up the blocks. Photo: BVIOC

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott measuring up the blocks. Photo: BVIOC

After measuring distance and adjusting the blocks to suit her leg position, Tahesia executes an impressive backward lunge to land both her feet precisely on the blocks. Lined up against fellow sprinters from elsewhere, Tahesia waits for the start signal before she explodes off the start, keeping up with the four men in the lanes next to her.

Her performance that session wins the nod of approval from Coach Scott. It’s time for a post work out treatment with Team BVI’s physiotherapist, Matt McGrath.

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott at Maracana training grounds, Rio. Photo: BVIOC

Tahesia Harrigan-Scott at Maracana training grounds, Rio. Photo: BVIOC

“I’m feeling good,” says Tahesia as she comes off her last, fast sprint. “This is the first Games where I can say I don’t have any niggling worries, for example an injury that I might not have mentally shaken off. Everything seems aligned for me and I feel well balanced in body, soul and mind to give this my best shot.”

(l-r) at the Rio 2016 Maracana training grounds with Coach Joey Scott, Chris Huffins, former USA decathlete and bronze medalist, Sydney 2000, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Kirani James, 400m Gold medalist London 2012, Coach Harvey Glance, 4x100m Gold medalist Montreal 1976.

(l-r) at the Rio 2016 Maracana training grounds with Coach Joey Scott, Chris Huffins, former USA decathlete and bronze medalist, Sydney 2000, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, Kirani James, 400m Gold medalist London 2012, Coach Harvey Glance, 4x100m Gold medalist Montreal 1976. Photo: BVIOC

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

Rio 2016 Team BVI in the count down to competition days

August 8, 2016 by
Team BVI at Rio2016 Opening Ceremony 1

Team BVI ready for the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony (l-r): Benoit Grattepanche, Swimming Coach; Ashley Kelly, (200m) Flag bearer; Elinah Phillip (50m Freestyle); Eldred Henry (Shot Put) Tracy Bradshaw, Swimming Chaperone; Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (100m); Stephanie Russ Penn, Chef de Mission; Winston Potter, Athletics Head Coach.

The day after the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony, the four members of the British Virgin Islands team took time to recover from an exciting and late night and started the training count down to their first competition dates.

This is the third consecutive Olympiad for 100m sprinter, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott, and the first Olympic Games for 200m runner, Ashley Kelly, shot putter, Eldred Henry and 16-year old swimmer, Elinah Phillip.

Athletics head coach, Winston Potter, swimming coach, Benoit Grattepanche, and physiotherapist, Matt McGrath have the athletes’ daily training, physiotherapy and rest schedules in place. All four athletes are on programmes designed to prepare their muscles for peak performance on action day.

BVI's Ashley Kelly in training at Rio 2016

BVI’s 200m runner, Ashley Kelly in training at Rio 2016

“Sunday was my last day in the weight room,” said Ashley. “I worked on power stuff – light and fast – before hitting the track. All the work is done so I am just working on firing up my muscles and getting sharp.”

Settled in three adjacent apartments in the Olympic Village, the delegation of athletes, coaches, physiotherapist and doctor – under the guardianship of Chef de Mission, Stephanie Russ Penn – have created a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere which is critical for the athletes’ mental and emotional preparation for the competitions.

Reflecting on the Opening Ceremony held on August 5, the athletes agreed that the experience was unique, with Tahesia stating that the enthusiasm and warmth of the crowd was a stand out for her.

Ashley had the honour of leading the team as the flag bearer, entering the Maracana Stadium as the 203rd country out of 207.

The outfits worn by the team reflected the green, white, and gold of the territory’s official colors. It included a white dress and green cardigan for the ladies and white jacket and pants for the men – both outfits accented with a blue scarf imprinted with the green, white, and gold Vigilate.

“We worked with Kristin Frazer of Trefle Designs who was a key person in conceptualizing the ensemble,” said Stephanie. “She was the designer of the dresses and jacket while the team at Quami’s Sewing design Ltd. assisted in the production of the tailor made outfits. Everyone was excited to be part of this and the BVIOC extends sincere thanks for their support.”

Live coverage of all Olympic events in which the territory’s athletes are competing, along with live coverage of the Caribbean’s athletes, will be broadcast on CBN Television Channel 51 and on CBN Radio 90.9FM. Events take place from 8.00am until 2.00pm EST and in the evenings from 7.00pm until 11.00pm EST. Rey O’Neal will be in the studio for live commentary and analysis of the VI’s athletes during their events.

The VI’s athletes’ first round of events are scheduled to take place on August 12 with Tahesia Harrigan-Scott in the Women’s 100m Preliminary Round / Round 1. The Women’s 100m semi finals and final will take place on August 13.

Also on August 12, Elinah Phillip will compete in the Women’s 50m Freestyle Heats with the semi finals taking place later that day. The final for the 50m Freestyle takes place on August 13.

On August 15 Ashley Kelly will compete in Round 1 of the 200M. The semi finals will take place on August 16 and the final on August 17.

On August 18, Eldred Henry will be throwing the Shot Put.

Updates on the VI’s athletes at Rio 2016 will be posted on the BVIOC accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and can be found on these platforms under BVI Olympic Committee.

Supporters are encourage to use the hashtag handle #teambvi.

Filed Under: Athletics, Rio News, Swimming Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Olympic Day celebrated with National Federations and a focus on Rio 2016

June 29, 2016 by
Olympic Day 2016 DSC00314

Runners on BVI Olympic Day 2016. Photo: BVIOC

Adults and children kicked off Olympic Day in the VI with an early morning run in Virgin Gorda on Saturday, June 25. In Tortola, a mix of all ages came out in the afternoon to celebrate the occasion at the Tortola Sports Club by watching demonstrations in rugby, archery, taekwondo, squash and having a go at each of the sports in advance of the symbolic 2-mile run through Road Town.

Representatives for the national federations for Rugby, Archery, Taekwondo and Squash also shared information on the sports and encouraged attendees to sign up and get moving with a new activity.

Rio 2016 sailing hopeful, Chris Brockbank joined the Royal BVI Yacht Club to speak about the efforts he and his teammate, Alec Anderson had undertaken in their quest to qualify for this Summer Olympic Games. Whilst they did not meet the Rio 2016 qualification, Chris reiterated their commitment to pursuing qualification for Tokyo 2020. Club manager Tamsin Rand also spoke about the youth sailing programme.

The VI Swimming Federation represented by the president and members of the youth swimming team were also in attendance.

Ephraim Penn, president of the BVIOC gave a brief history of the BVI Olympic Committee and presented one of the founding members, Reynold ‘Rey’ O’Neal, OBE with a commemorative photo book of the tribute evening hosted for him by the BVIOC earlier in the year.

In keeping with the goal of Olympic Day to get the young involved and engaged in sports, Penn also spoke about the Long Term Athletes Development programme hosted by the BVIOC. The series of LTAD workshops will equip coaches with the resources to identify and develop promising youth athletes with a view to training them for major games such as the Olympics.

Chef de Mission for Rio 2016, Stephanie Russ-Penn followed with an update on the preparations for Rio 2016 confirming that the VI’s qualified track runners, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (100m) and Ashley Kelly (200m) will be joined by young swimmer, Elinah Phillip (50m Freestyle) who will compete as part of the universality invitation.

Russ-Penn then went on to reveal the outerwear for the Team BVi athletes participating in major games highlighting the integration of the Vigilante in the design.

Rounding off with information on attending the summer Games, Mark Chapman, Treasurer, BVIOC said, “Rio 2016 promises to be an exciting occasion and it’s not too late to get event tickets and support Team BVI in Brazil. The BVIOC has tickets for residents and anyone else who has a connection to the territory. Recent research also shows airfare via Panama is available starting at $1006 so anyone interested in getting tickets can complete an online request on bviolympics.org or contact the BVIOC office on 494 6920. The summer Games take place August 5 – 21.”

The afternoon set up at the sports club included tips and massages by La Ambiance Spa and an information booth run by the VI branch of the Regional Anti-Doping Organisation (RADO).

The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force, and Red Cross volunteers were on hand to ensure the safety of the runners and walkers. Roadtown Wholesale distributed Dasani water and Powerade to participants along the route and at the sports club.

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, “Olympic Day is for everyone, regardless of age or athletic ability. The important thing is to get the couch potatoes off the couch. Although Olympic Day commemorates an historic event, its goals are aimed at the future and particularly at young people. Olympic Day is an opportunity to remind people that sport is not just for watching. We want to inspire all people to get active and to have fun. Thank you for doing your part by getting off the couch. Please encourage others to do the same — not just on Olympic Day, but as part of a healthier and happier life. Enjoy the day, and please keep the spirit of Olympic Day alive throughout the year.”

Filed Under: Buy Tickets for Rio 2016, BVI Olympic Committee, Rio News, Rugby, Sailing, Squash, Swimming, Taekwondo Tagged With: , , , ,

Olympic day activities celebrate the countdown to Rio 2016

June 21, 2016 by

OlypicDay2016 (7)The BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC) will be celebrating its annual Olympic Day event with multi-sport activities hosted at the Tortola Sports Club on Saturday, June 25th, 2016 from 2:30 pm – 6pm.

Based on the Olympic Day pillars of ‘Discover’, ‘Learn’, ‘Move’, activities kick off at 2:30pm with an opportunity for the public to discover a new sport and  learn about Archery, Rugby, Taekwondo, Squash, and Sailing from the representative national federations and by taking part in the interactive demonstrations.

Other highlights include the announcement of confirmed athletes to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the Rio 2016 athletes’ slideshow, the unveiling of major Games uniforms, Rio ticketing information, tips and massages from Professionals for La Ambience Spa, the reading of the Olympic Day Message, and concluding with movement with the symbolic Olympic Day 2 mile run/walk through Road Town at 4:45pm.

The Virgin Gorda community will celebrate by assembling at the College grounds, Enid Pickering Building at the HLSCC Virgin Gorda Centre at 6:30am for the Olympic Day Run/Walk. Interested persons may contact Gloria L. Geoge at leolafoye@gmail.com and by mobile ‘phone on (284) 547 7404.

Free Olympic Day T-Shirts and Dasani water and Powerade, compliments of Road Town Wholesale (1975) Ltd., will be distributed to all participants.

Activities are open to adults and children of all ages and ability levels. Come out, take part and together let’s support the Olympic Movement!

For more information, please contact Cleave Farrigton, Executive Director, BVIOC by email at cmfarrington@bviolympics.org or by telephone on (284) 494 6920.

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

BVI To Host 2nd OECS Track and Field Championships

April 28, 2016 by
Rey O'Neal, right, former BVI Olympic Committee & BVI Athletics Association President speaks during a media briefing, as BVI Olympic Committee President Ephraim Penn & BVI Athletics Association President Dean "The Sportsman" Greenaway, listens

Rey O’Neal, right, former BVI Olympic Committee & BVI Athletics Association President speaks during a media briefing, as BVI Olympic Committee President Ephraim Penn & BVI Athletics Association President Dean “The Sportsman” Greenaway, listens

By BVI Athletics Association

The British Virgin Islands will host the 2nd Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Track and Field Championships, July 1-3 at the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds and officials are expecting ‘top flight competition’ from the sub region’s athletes.

The BVI will host athletes and officials from Anguilla, St. Kitts-Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

“The BVI Olympic Committee is a part of the Association of Olympic Committees of the OECS (ANOECS) and ANOECS played a key role in getting these championships started,” noted BVI Olympic Committee president Ephraim Penn, during a press briefing at the BVI Olympic Committee office. “The decision was made in 2013 when the event was held in St. Kitts, to get things moving in this direction. Our regional Olympic Committees wanted to start national championships in the OECS, so that our up and coming athletes could get exposure to top flight competition, first among themselves, then regionally and internationally. The first one they came up with, with its rich history, is the athletics championships.”

Although there was an OECS championships from 1987-1991, under the new arrangement with ANOECS, Penn noted the first championship was held in St. Kitts in 2014 and last year’s slated for BVI was cancelled because of work planned for the track. He congratulated the BVI Athletics Association for taking up the mantle after the track has been resurfaced to move forward with the championships this year.

“I know the athletes in the OECS are looking forward to it, the Olympic Committees in the OECS are looking forward to it and I’m sure the fans will be in for a great treat,” Penn stated. “These are the athletes you will see later in August competing in the Olympic Games, so you’ll get a first glance of some of the top athletes in the OECS who will be in Rio. From discussing the event with other Olympic Committees, we get a sense that they are fully supporting their Athletic Associations and they will be funding them sufficiently to be here, so we expect big crowds and top flight competition. I’m encouraging fans to come out and see track and field at a very high level and enjoy the warm up for Rio.”

Former BVI Olympic Committee president and BVI Athletics Association founding member and longest serving president Rey O’Neal, an OECS Congress member, said what was great about the previous OECS Championships, is that outside of the Carifta Games and to a much lesser extent the biannual CAC Jr. Championships, there were very few opportunities for athletes from the small islands to compete.

There were a number of athletes at the time who still wanted to compete but, were not at a level where they would go to the CAC Sr. Championships, and the OECS meet gave them a chance to develop at their own pace.

“It was possibly the best development meet that could have been made available,” he noted. “There hasn’t been a whole lot for developing athletes outside the 20 and under age group. It was good to see the OECS Championships come back on stream. We are on the right track and I think it will be an excellent meet.”

Regarding athletes in this year’s competition, O’Neal, a member of the Association of Track and Field Statisticians, said Antigua and Barbuda’s Men’s 4x100m Relay team a Pan Am Games and 2015 IAAF World Championships finalist as well as their sprinters will be here. He noted that Grenada has a formidable 4x400m relay quartet-though he’s not sure if everyone will make it-but they currently have the two fastest quarter milers in the world in Kirani James and Bralon Taplin.

The field events will be stronger than they have ever been and Grenada has a tradition for Javelin Throwers. O’Neal noted that the BVI’s Eldred Henry and Dominica’s Dillon Simon are two Shot Putters who have been throwing distances unthought of several years ago. The St. Lucian pair of High Jumpers, Laverne Spencer and Jeannelle Scheper, ranked in the top 20 in the world last year, and Antigua and Barbuda’s Priscilla Frederick, will lead a qualify field.

“On the track, the sprints are obviously going to be strong and St. Kitts-Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda, figure to be the leaders. While Grenada has several top 400m runners, there are several others we expect to see here and we have a few one lappers of qualify as well, but, there’s going to be a lot of good competition,” he said. “We anticipate a number of our All Comers Records falling.”

The BVI’s Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Chantel Malone are the reigning OECS 100m and Long Jump champions O’Neal noted and that both of the territory’s female relay teams should do well, with the 4x100m team running 44.05 seconds last week in Florida.

“We really think the crowd will enjoy what they see and there will be competition at a high level,” O’Neal said.

Filed Under: Athletics Tagged With: , , , ,
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