Sports
BVI to get international standard swimming pool
By MERRICK ANDREWS
Online News Editor
The British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (BVIOC) said it has secured the donation of a 25-metre “international competition standard” swimming pool valued at $400,000 from Panam Sports.
The “short course” pool will be installed and managed by the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College on Tortola, British Virgin Islands, according to the BVIOC said in a press release.
In comparison, an Olympic-size swimming pool must be 50-metres long and is known as a long-course pool.
The BVIOC said the project came to fruition after six months of discussions between President of the BVIOC, Ephraim Penn; Secretary General for Panam Sports, Ivar Sisniega; and President of the HLSCC, Dr. Richard Georges.
World Aquatics — the international swimming federation, formerly known as FINA – is also supporting the project.
“Preparatory work on the proposal included a meeting with the President of the BVI Swimming Federation, schematics from Myrtha Pools received through Panam Sports and a rough order of magnitude,” the BVIOC said.
Myrtha Pools is a swimming pool contractor operating out of Castiglione delle Stiviere in Italy.
“Dr. Georges initially approached the BVIOC in July with an offer of partnership for the installation of a swimming pool following a response I had given to a question on the status of swimming in the territory at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games press conference,” said President Penn in the release “This was a timely outreach that came on the heels of a Panam Sports National Olympic Committee Consultation meeting that Secretary General Lloyd Black, Treasurer Mark Chapman and I attended in Miami in May 2022.”
Pan AM Sports’ Sisniega added: “A short course 25 meter pool is the ideal sized pool for a small country, since it would allow the swimmers to compete in official distances, while at the same time supporting a learn to swim program that would help develop local talent and, more importantly, give the opportunity to many of the local children and youth the opportunity to learn to swim properly and to engage in this sport on a regular basis.”
Officials said the donation of the swimming pool to the BVI is a pilot for other national Olympic committees in the Caribbean.
The Committee ssaid the project is aligned with the College’s master plan as the swimming pool supports its marine and maritime curriculum as well as its vision for the student experience.
The BVIOC also disclosed that the Virgin Islands Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) has been invited to oversee and manage the preparations and construction of the facility.
“Swimming and water safety are essential life skills and should be taught at a young age. The Ministry of Education, Youth Affairs and Sports has been considering the prospect of delivering this necessary component of the national curriculum. Thus, we are pleased that HLSCC has collaborated with the private sector to deliver a facility that would open up access to many aquatic disciplines, thereby giving all students and the wider community the opportunity to be taught water safety and to engage in aquatics. I commend Dr. Georges, Mr. Ephraim Penn and the parties involved in the project and thank Panam Sports and World Aquatics for their commitment to the BVI through the BVIOC,” said Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Sharie de Castro, was quoted as saying in the press release.
“The next step in the process is to put the proposal together for the funding for the civil works and ancillary elements of the aquatics center such as the administrative offices, changing facilities, gym and therapy area, stands, storage rooms etc,” said Dr. Georges, who has identified potential financiers for the project.
Sports
Team BVI to Compete in WAAm Caribbean Development Championship 2024
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) archery team has departed for Kingston, Jamaica, to compete in the 2024 WAAm Caribbean Development Championship. Hosted by the Jamaica Archery Federation (JAI), the event runs from September 18 to 22 and will feature top talent from around the Caribbean and beyond.
The competition provides an opportunity for the BVI team, a mix of beginners and developmental archers, to test their skills against athletes from countries to leave their mark on the regional stage. Leading the charge in the Recurve Beginner Under 15 Men category is Matthew Keandré, while David Persaud will compete in the Recurve Developmental Men category. Both will be testing their skills in the qualification rounds for their respective categories.
The Compound Beginner Under 15 Women category sees Kasadiyah Baird aiming for success, while Naomi Onwufuju and Keyara Smith will represent the BVI in the Compound Developmental Under 18 Women category. Javlyn Frett also joins the developmental ranks in the Compound Developmental Women category, setting her sights on strong results.
Kellyann Tillack, competing in the Recurve Beginner Under 18 Women category, rounds out the squad, each determined to put BVI archery on the map.
Coaches Ritseeniyah Georges and Patrick Smith will be guiding the team through the competition, providing essential support and expertise to help the young athletes navigate this important event.
The competition will feature other archers from regional heavyweights like Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Jamaica, the host nation, leads the pack with a 34-member contingent, while countries like Guyana and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) are also sending strong teams. The United States has joined the competition as well, bringing an additional level of intensity to the championship.
Sports
BVI Secures First Victory in 45th Chess Olympiad
In Round 3 of the 45th Chess Olympiad, the British Virgin Islands notched its first win in the Open division, with Jhon Samuel securing a crucial victory on Board 2 against Bermuda.
The historic event, featuring a record-breaking 193 teams in the Open section and 181 squads in the Women’s competition, is being held in Budapest, Hungary, from September 10-23.
For more updates, follow BVI Chess Federation.
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