BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NINE athletes have been named to represent the twin-island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis at the London 2012 Olympic Games scheduled for July 27 to August 13, but two of them are on the provisional list.
The seven substantive representatives are Delwayne Delaney, Jason Rogers, Antoine Adams, Brijesh Lawrence, Lestrod Roland and Tameka Williams who will be led by Kim Collins, while the two provisional members – Tiandra Ponteen and Virgil Hodge – have until July 5 to achieve the qualifying time to join the team.
This announcement was made today (June 27) by President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC) Alphonso Bridgewater at a press conference held at the Olympic House in Taylors Range.
In addition to the naming of the Olympic Team, the event was used to unveil some Special Issue of Stamps that feature the Federation’s Male 4X100m Relay Team that won a Bronze medal last year in Daegu, South Korea and the successful hosting of the 2011 Commonwealth Games Federation General Assembly by the SKNOC and the Commonwealth Games Assembly in November 2011; as well as the presentation of Bronze medals to the Federation’s 4X100m Female Relay Team which were won at the 2010 CAC Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.
The stamps were presented to Bridgewater by Postmaster General Sandra Davaren, who noted that stamps are considered ambassadors. “They represent us the world over, they speak about us on a national level, whether it be culture, sports whatever. And so we are happy as a postal administration to be able to assist in creating something that could certainly help to preserve our national heritage.”
Among the invitees were the Minister of Health the Hon. Marcella Liburd, Speaker of the National Assembly the Hon. Curtis Martin and Minister of Sport the Hon Glenn Phillip who stated that the occasion was a historic one in the life of the selected athletes.
“The Olympic Games is the most viewed sporting event in the world. It evokes a sense of national pride and brings citizens of all walks of life within our Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis together for a common goal, and they also cheer our athletes from right here home to victory.
“I applaud all athletes who have made it this far for their hard work, their commitment, their dedication, their training for them to reach this far. And I would like to place on record the support and commitment of the government of St. Kitts and Nevis on congratulating all these athletes who are selected and we do wish them the very best,” the Minister said.
Quoting a phrase from Konris Maynard, Minister Phillip said, “We are small but we talawah…and it has proven time and time again especially in the athletic field.”
He charged the athletes to understand the national pride that is associated with them when they leave the Federation to represent the nation in London.
“I do hope that our athletes do understand the national pride that is associated with them when they leave our shores to represent us. Because, as a nation and as a government, the exposure that they are giving to our nation, we cannot in a monetary way do that at this time. And so, their contribution in terms of their athletic prowess goes very, very far."
Minister Phillip thanked the organisers for inviting him, congratulated the athletes and urged them to do their best, while declaring his optimism that the team would be very successful in the 2012 Olympics.
The SKNOC's President also announced Lester Hanley as the Team Manager and Iston Williams as his Assistant, while Lonzo Wilkinson is the Head Coach with Stuart Joseph as Assistant Coach.
The athletes are currently encamped and will soon be winging out to London, where they will be accommodated at Hertfordshire before moving into the Olympic Village.
