(L-R) His Excellency Governor Boyd McCleary, The Honourable Premier Dr D. Orlando Smith, The Honourable Minster for Sports, Mr Myron Walwyn, President,BVIOC, Mr Ephraim Penn, Chef de Mission, Xavier Dag Samuels at the launch of Time for London 2012.
Tortola, British Virgin Islands, and February 23, 2012 – The BVI Olympic Office with the support of his Excellency Governor Boyd McCleary, Honourable Premier Dr D. Orlando Smith, Honourable Minster for Sports, Mr Myron Walwyn, Chef de Mission, Dag Samuels launched the count down to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
The campaign, Time for London 2012, promotes the Olympic Movement and is a rallying call for the public’s support of the Virgin Islands’ athletes who will represent the nation at the upcoming Olympic Games in the UK. The breakfast event, which took place on February 21 at Maria’s by the Sea. was attended by past Olympians, National Federations and sponsor representatives.
In March last year the Road to London 2012 was launched at Government House to announce the Virgin Islands’ six hopeful athletes for the London 2012 Games. Of the six, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott has a qualifying time of 11.14 seconds and is eligible to compete in the 100 meter dash. Chantel Malone, Karene King and Ashley Kelly need to shave a second or a fraction of a second in their disciplines in upcoming qualifying competitions that take place April 1 – July 8. Alec Anderson (laser sailing) and Omar Jones (javelin throw) will concentrate on qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“Each of these ladies is a record holder in her discipline and we salute them in their achievements,” said Ephraim Penn, president of the BVIOC. “Our campaign title, ‘Time for London 2012’, is a rally call to the Virgin Islands to support these young ladies as they strive to cut their time and qualify for participation in London 2012. If successful, this will be a historic moment in the Virgin Islands Olympic history as it will be the first time that the VI is represented by an all-women team.”
The BVIOC, with the support of its campaign sponsors, the BVI London Office, Friends of the BVI in the UK, LIME and Harney’s, will be rolling out a calendar of community activities through schools, National Federations and other sporting and social groups to raise awareness of the Olympic Movement and to instill national pride in the VI’s representation at London 2012.
The first event will take place at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground on Thursday, March 8, when the Duke of Gloucester will meet past and present Olympians and young athletes of the 15 affiliated federations of the Olympic Committee.
The official programme for the London 2012 Games begins on July 2 when the Team departs for London. A series of events are slated to take place from July 4 in London hosted in conjunction with the BVI Government London Office and the Friends of the BVI. Hertfordshire County Council will be the hosts for the VI’s athletes who will train at facilities in Aston and who will be under the care of the Chef de Mission.
The opening ceremony takes place on July 27 with the Track and Field competitions commencing August 3 and ending August 11. The closing ceremony takes place on August 12.
The Governor noted that London is the first city to host the Olympic Games for the third time. The first occasion being in 1908 when Tug-o-War and motor boating were included in the competitions which took place over a three-month period. Twenty-two nations participated with 2,008 athletes. In 1948, London hosted its second Olympic Games, which was attended by fifty-nine nations and 4,104 athletes. This year is the biggest international sporting event with two hundred five nations and 14,700 athletes and 21,000 journalists and broadcasters expected to attend. The events will take place in thirty-six venues located not just in London but also throughout the UK.
“The two main themes of London 2012 are sustainability and legacy,” said Governor McCleary. “The Games have been designed to be sustainable from transportation through to the way the venues have been built. Carrying on from the 2008 Games in Singapore, London 2012 includes the legacy of sport for young people and the UK has reached out to countries across the world to develop sports for the youth.”
The Governor went on to acknowledge the past Olympians and encourage the success of the future athletes of the VI.
The Virgin Islands has been represented at each of the Olympic Games since 1984 and has been represented by twenty-five athletes in the 3 disciplines of sailing, track and field and speed skating. The Premier congratulated the current four athletes on their accomplishments and wished them success as they represented the Virgin Islands on the world stage. He also recognized the achievements of all past Olympians and athletes in their role as nation ambassadors.
The Minister for Sports acknowledged all the athletes past, present and future and called for recognition of the coaches and trainers who work behind the scenes to help them reach their potential. The minister appealed for the nation to get behind the VI’s London 2012 athletes and motivate and embolden them as they head to the UK. He also went on to encourage the young athletes across the Virgin Islands to prepare now for participation in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
During his remarks, Mr Penn presented the Minister for Sport with the official invitation from the President of the Associations of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) to attend the second World Olympics Sports Convention to be held in Moscow, on April 16 and 17.
(Source http://bvinews.com/bvi/time-for-london-2012/)
