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Grand celebration to honour McMaster & other VI athletes

- residents express excitement & pride for VI athletes
An official celebration will be held on June 14, 2018 for gold medalist in the 400m hurdle, Kyron A. McMaster. Photo: Facebook
Other athletes that represented the Virgin Islands (VI) at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia will be honoured in grand celebration. Photo: BVICA
Other athletes that represented the Virgin Islands (VI) at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia will be honoured in grand celebration. Photo: BVICA
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - To pay tribute to gold medalist in the 400m hurdle, Kyron A. McMaster and the other Virgin Islands athletes who represented the territory at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia, the government is planning an official celebration.

The announcement was made in a press release on April 24, 2018.

Minister for Education and Culture, Honourable Myron V. Walwyn (AL), said it is fitting to honour Mr McMaster and other VI athletes on June 14, 2018 by putting together an event where members of the community can join in the celebration.

Honourable Walwyn said, “I am happy to see the positive results of the efforts shown by our local athletes during the Commonwealth Games, and other athletic events. These athletes are ambassadors of our country, and it is for this reason that I believe it is fitting for this community to celebrate our athletes/ambassadors in a most worthy manner”. 

Motorcade, parade & prize giving ceremony 

Meanwhile, Director of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mrs Brenda Lettsome Tye, is calling on the entire Virgin Islands community to support the upcoming event when Mr McMaster and the other athletes return to the Virgin Islands.

Mrs Lettsome Tye said, “We are making preparations to welcome our athletes and we want the cooperation of everyone to make them feel special as they are deserving of this tribute. We are working on a few events such as a motorcade, a parade and prize giving ceremony. As the preparations develop, we will keep the community abreast, as once again we are counting on their support to make this event a memorable one, not only for our athletes but for the history of the Virgin Islands”.

Reaction on the ground

Meanwhile, our newsroom sought to get some reactions and feelings on the accomplishment of McMaster winning the first gold medal for the territory.

Sasha M. Lewis, said she was very “excited” when she heard that McMaster won the gold medal for the Virgin Islands, while noted that she watched a video of the race on Facebook.

“As I watched that video I jumped for joy when I realised that he was leading and then he passed the finish line, I went crazy to the point that the phone almost fell out of my hands,” she said excitedly.

Another resident told our news reporter that he is happy to see the government will be paying tribute not just to McMaster but to all the athletes, while pointing out that they all should be celebrated because they went and represented the Territory even if they did not win a medal. “I will definitely be at the celebration on June 14.”

Speaking with Simone L. Johnson, she expressed that her 10-year-old son after seeing the video of McMaster told her he wants to be just like the gold medalist.

“I was filled with joy when my son said that to me because my son will see Kyron as a positive role model and know that he can do something positive in his life rather than getting mix up into the wrong thing. I am glad the territory has someone like McMaster," said Ms Johnson.

“I have two sons and I hope to let them meet McMaster when they have the celebration because my sons look up to him very much,” said a young man to our reporter.

8 Responses to “Grand celebration to honour McMaster & other VI athletes”

  • Gumption.Official (25/04/2018, 18:52) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thank you for being one more reasons why some of our youngsters should start thinking future while doing their best to make better choices.

    Thank you for showing our youngsters that with hard work, discipline and determination it’s all possible (but they have to earn it).

    Thank you for being one more example to our youngsters that you can take pain and stress and tune it into greatness.

    Thank you for being one more reminder to our government that we have the talent in just about every field, Sports, music, Entrepreneurship etc and can do it we just need the support of the community.

    Mr.McMaster I appreciate your later nights, early morning, being yield and challenge by your couches, team members, media etc yet still remains focus enough to keep going. I thank you for taken all the good and BS in life and turning into greatness. Keep making us Proud.
  • BVI STRONG (25/04/2018, 20:41) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    I think that the organizers should start using the term BVI Athletes and not single out a particular name. Or sound like, "by the way" a worthy mention of the other Athletes. Just saying. Give those behind a reason to train in becoming an athletic ambassador for the British Virgin Islands, and that ALL of then are equally important. Only one bad athlete it takes to embarrass us just like one can make is proud.
    • Stride (26/04/2018, 08:40) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      I’m not surprised to see a comment like this. We do have a sense of entitlement here in the BVI. We should be awarded for accomplishments we didn’t achieve. What an excellent way to get our youngsters to reach higher. Congrats Kyron!! You earned and deserve your accolades!!
  • Nice (25/04/2018, 20:50) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    We are very proud of them hoping to be there. They deserve it in grand style.
  • My girl (25/04/2018, 21:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The man who "ran with it", our gold boy hurry home
  • any bets? (25/04/2018, 23:33) Like (1) Dislike (7) Reply
    Wall-wind will try and steal the show
  • Shanerah (26/04/2018, 09:29) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    A House, a plot of land, money ($$$$) and a street name would be appropriate. Kyron I appreciate you and I publically want to thank your mother and father for raising an icon. We have enough time to go in the House of Assembly and have the 1,2 and 3rd reading passing a resolution with the above in place before June 14th 2018.
  • usa (26/04/2018, 10:46) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Kyron is going to do very well. In a few, he is going to have a lot of endorsements.


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