For the past twelve years, starting in 2012, the BVIOC has provided a stipend framework that funds the development of the BVIOC’s elite athletes who are on track to compete for medals at major Games.
The annual funding for this “Elite Athlete Scholarship” initiative – renamed on March 5, 2024 to the Tahesia Harrigan-Scott Elite Athlete Scholarship – is currently $200,000 each year. Money comes in the form of athlete grants from the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity (OS) and Panam Sports. These funds are disbursed directly to more than ten national athletes across different sports.
The objectives of the BVIOC Elite Athlete Scholarship program include:
Identification and Recruitment
The BVIOC strives to identify talented athletes across various disciplines who have the potential to represent our nation at Olympic Games. The BVIOC’s rigorous selection process – which starts with the National Federations’ list of athletes who meet the basic criteria and who subsequently are approved by the International Federation and OS – ensures a roster of the most promising athletes.
Basic Criteria
The athlete must fulfill the follow basic criteria:
Practice, at an international level, an individual sport included on the programme in at least one of the following Major Games:
• CAC Games
• Commonwealth Games
• Pan Am Games
• Olympic Games
• Have a proven technical sports level to be able to medal at one of the Major Games.
• Abide by the standards of sporting ethics as established by the BVIOC.
• Must not have an anti-doping violation as set out in the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) code.
The THSEAS stipend contributes to the following items:
Training and Coaching
The athletes are exposed to top-quality training and coaching from experienced professionals in their respective fields to receive the best guidance and support. The scholarship ensures that they are adequately funded to continue with these programs.
Athlete Support
The BVIOC believes in providing comprehensive support to its roster of elite athletes, including access to sports medicine, physical therapy, performance analysis, nutrition counselling, and mental resilience training. These resources help them reach their full potential and achieve success at the international level.
The BVIOC’s current roster of elite athletes – all of whom are national and regional record holders with proven track records in major Games – include Kyron McMaster, silver medalist in World Championships and world ranked #4 in the men’s 400m hurdles, Chantel Malone (long jump), Eldred Henry (shot put), Rikkoi Brathwaite (100m) Adaejah Hodge (200m) and Thad Lettsome (ILCA 7 laser sailor).
The British Virgin Islands’ team delivered historic results at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games when McMaster and Malone competed in the finals of their respective events. McMaster went on to successfully defend his 400m hurdles championship title at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and most recently, brought home the BVI’s first World Athletics Outdoor Championship medal when he won the silver. Hodge set a new Indoor U20 and U18 100m World Record in the 100m at the New Balance Indoor Track champs in March 2023. Lettsome notably beat 11 other contenders at the San Salvador CAC Games for the last spot available for the Santiago 2023 Panam Games – he was the first BVI sailor to do so since 1995.
With medals in mind, the BVIOC is seeking to boost the stipend for the athletes who are likely to make the team for Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028. The annual sum has already been allocated and we are urgently seeking additional funds required by the athletes to continue to cover the services of their respective coaches and therapists over the next five months. Major sponsors that have come on board this year include DLT Solutions, Conyers and Clarence Thomas Limited. Supporters also include Republic Bank and Scrub Island.
While the above solicitation for funds focuses on Paris 2024, the goal is to secure a partnership and annual commitment to the Elite Athlete Scholarship fund through the next cycle to include Los Angeles 2028.
The BVIOC planning group is available to meet and discuss the programme for any entity looking to support the elite athletes.
View information on sponsorship opportunities.
Contact:
info@bviolympics.org
Tel: (284) 346 8375
