UPDATE: Govt needs to better fund athletes – Greenaway
Everyone was in high spirits and fanning themselves with the mat of pride and joy at the ceremony held yesterday July 18, 2013 at Government Administrative Complex in Road Town Tortola, as they expressed their deep appreciation at the performance of the Virgin Islands athletics team at the IAAF World Youth Championships. But one man, though proud as well, had a serious note to pull.
“I am going to put forward this suggestion for consideration by our leaders. The BVIAA would like to see, in particular, that when our athletes are going to represent the Territory at the highest level of athletics competitions, IAAF World Youth Championships series and a continental event – World Youth, World Juniors, World Senior and Pan Am Junior Championships in particular – that legislation be put in place by an Act of the House of Assembly that our delegation be adequately funded to get to these competitions,” stressed Mr Greenaway.
In a voice tone of pain and desperation, Mr Greenaway noted that the marketing and advertising exposure the athletes give the Virgin Islands is immeasurable and they will continue to wear the colours of the Territory with pride and fly the flag high.
He said while he is grateful to everyone who supported and encouraged them along the way, including businesses and private individuals who choose not to be named, it is only the members of the BVIAA Executive who know the financial struggles they face. “Success is expensive. We are dearly seeking for businesses in our community to partner with us.”
He stressed that it is not easy having a delegation return from Curacao with medals on July 1, 2013, then sending a delegation to the Ukraine on July 2 and another delegation to Mexico on July 3, that had two finalists and a narrowly missed medal in the CAC senior championships.
“To continue enjoying and celebrating our athletes’ success we need serious financial support. It is the British Virgin Islands these fine athletes are representing. We have to believe in them and their abilities, not just sometimes, but all the time. There is no other association in this country doing what the BVI Athletics Association and our athletes are doing,” said Greenaway. “We need to seriously examine ourselves and support each other more because sport is a unifying force,” he further stated.
The athletics boss said that on November 28, 2012 on Tortola and December 1, 2012 on Virgin Gorda, a concept of “Project Podium” was launch by the association. This, he said, is an initiative which is designed to see more VI athletes, who are Carifta games finalist and medalists, advancing to semis and finals in competition where they haven’t had much success before with the ultimate aim of winning medals.
“To have three of our athletes advancing to the semifinals and one being robbed of a semifinals berth shows that the vision of taking this sport to a higher level is underway, as we have accomplished part of our five year goal, winning a medal at a major competition in just eight months,” highlighted Mr Greenaway.
He said that while the administration has taken a knock they are all about giving athletes opportunities. “It was the first time in our World Championship history that every day of the competition you could tune in and see BVI athletes in action, and not just running and sitting down but our athletes being competitive, advancing and running personal bests, establishing a National Youth Record and a National Scholastic Record, getting to the finals and eventually winning a medal,” Greenaway noted.
See previous article posted July 18, 2013
VI's youth athletes get stately welcome home
They are the pride and joy of the Virgin Islands as they continue to keep the Territory’s flag flying high and sending a message to the world that though a tiny dot on the world’s map the Virgin Islands has what it takes to keep that tiny dot visible.
They are the Territory’s young athletes who returned to these shores today, July 18, 2013 after a successful participation at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine.
Among the athletes were Taylor Hill, Nelda Huggins, Jonel Lacey and Tarika ‘Tinker Bell’ Moses, who etched their names in the athletics history books after claiming silver in the Medley Relay at the Championships on July 14, 2013. The [British] Virgin Islands came in second to the United States in a time of 2:07.40 as against 2:05.15 by the US.
People from all sections of society converged at strategic points while others joined a motorcade that welcomed home the VI National team this afternoon.
The welcoming motorcade and ceremony, a collaborative effort of the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports and the BVI Athletics Association (BVIAA), paraded through the streets of Tortola before heading to the Government Administrative Complex in Road Town.
All along persons were seen screaming the names of the athletes, cheering and some even followed the procession to the place of ceremony while waving the Territory’s flag.
The athletes were led to the place of ceremony by a flag parade executed by a section of the Territory’s disciplined services.
Once at the Government Administrative Complex, the team was greeted by Premier and Minister of Finance Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn, At Large Representative Hon. Archibald C. Christian and Fifth District Representative Hon. Delores Christopher.
33 Responses to “UPDATE: Govt needs to better fund athletes – Greenaway”
He need to tell da thruth- govt has put in place some serious funding for the same group of medallists- maybe he shud also state he work for the govt, but never in he office- so perhaps his salary cud go to track anf field. maybe if he took less trips himself the money saved cud go to the athletes, and maybe if bviaa stop sending athletes to major games for the "experience" and sent a more sensible team to carifta then the money they get wud go further- he also forgot to say the bvioc support track and field a lot as well.
the athletes deserve every chance, but lets see the bviaa exec start to raise funds themselves like other sports have to and stop holding dem hand out for govt money- they govt aint hording it and do what they can
I completely agree with you . he is right now going to world senior championships. tell me for what? he need to stay home or pay his own way and save the money. a lot of these people they are sending termed "delegation" could very well stay home....
When will Anegada and Virgin Gorda get some sort of focus and respect when it comes to track & field and other sports. After all we are not "goats", we also contribute and represent the BVI in some sporting events too. Most of time it is the athletes from the sister Islands help make up teams and we too participate and excel beyond expectation of critics to qualify to represent the BVI (Tortola does not make up the BVI, when I last check).
I know, some response would say blame your representative, I do agree, however, government have changed many times and ALL of them sell for the same price. NONE of them doing anything for VG & Anegada, but when election time comes it’s all about the “YOUTH”.
"Time longer than twine" the old people say
that they killed the swim program. They dont even mention it any more. Good thing the phillip sisters parents
take them out of the country.