Virgin Islands squash players Joe Chapman, left, and Luca Reich, right, will open action at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom on July 29, 2022. Photo: Facebook/File

Premier Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), right, visited the Virgin Islands' athletes and officials at the Athlete's Village in Birmingham on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. Photo: BVIOC

13 of 18 VI athletes arrive in UK

According to the BVI Olympic Association, 13 of the expected 18 athletes, along with members of the Virgin Islands (VI) delegation to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games have arrived in the UK ahead of the Opening Ceremony.

Settling into the Athlete’s Village in Birmingham are squash players in the Men’s singles and doubles, Joe Chapman and Luca Reich along with Coach Adam Murrills, the 3x3 basketball team comprising Joy Victor, Shauliqua Fahie, Keithrece Smith, Mahkayla Pickering and Coach Eric Matthias and contingents of the track and field team including Rikkoi A.R. Brathwaite (100m), Beyoncé Defreitas (200m), Adriano Gumbs (400m) the two sets of Gumbs twins, sisters Tynelle (hammer throw) and Trevia (shot put) and their brothers, Djimon (discus, shot put) and Diamanté (discus). Physiotherapist Thomas Jeppesen and Team Manager, Ralston Henry are also at the Village.

Arriving later this week, according to the BVIOC in a press release today, July 28, 2022, will be the remaining track and field athletes including gold medalist and 400m hurdles defending champion, Kyron A. McMaster, Eldred Henry (shot put) and Deya Erickson (100m hurdles) along with Coaches Lennox Graham, Joey Scott. Time trial and road race cyclists Darel Christopher Jr and Sam Talbot and Coach Paul Cullimore will also arrive on Saturday.

VI Squash players in action tomorrow

The squash Men’s singles Preliminary Round of 64, which takes place tomorrow, Friday, July 29 will be the first event for the VI when Reich plays against Emyr Evans of Wales at 12:00pm local time (7:00am VI time) and Chapman plays against Abhay Singh of India at 7.15pm UK time (2:15pm VI time). 

The 3x3 basketball team will then face Canada in the Group Match on Saturday, July 30, 2022.

BVIOC said the competition schedule for the VI will be shared following the technical meetings.

Premier Wheatley meets VI team

Meanwhile, Premier Dr The Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), accompanied by Mrs Tracey Bradshaw, Director, BVI London Office, were welcomed to the Athlete’s Village in Birmingham by Chef de Mission, Mark Chapman and President of the BVI Commonwealth Games Association on Wednesday, July 27, 2022.

The Premier shared words of encouragement with the athletes before joining the team for dinner at the Village.

Birmingham 2022 is the 22nd edition of the Commonwealth Games with 11 days of sports comprising 286 sessions, covering 19 sports in which athletes from 72 nations will compete for championship titles.