Monday, 16 May 2011 – Road Town, Tortola: Five weeks to go and plans are shaping up for the team of six young athletes, who for the first time in history, will represent the Virgin Islands at the Special Olympics World Summer Games.
Team SOBVI, all sailors, will be the only sailing crew from the Caribbean and Latin America to enter the largest sporting event on Earth this year!
On 17 June, the delegation of nine will leave the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island courtesy of BVI Airways, on a charter to Antigua and Barbuda, where their Virgin Atlantic over-nighter will connect to a European flight into Athens, Greece.
“The Special Olympics BVI Team has been training hard for two years for this event and has every intention of returning home with medals,” stated Head Coach Alison Knights Bramble. “We will be facing the giants – the US, Great Britain, Australia, China to name but a few, but we are keen to show them all just what BVI sailors can do!”
Special Olympics BVI has received generous support from various sectors of the local community who have all come together to make this historic event possible. Maples – long term supporters of Special Olympics BVI, have come up trumps in purchasing all the team gear necessary for the sailors while on the water and après-sail, which amounts to thousands of dollars. Caribbean Insurers Ltd. yet again will cover all travel and competition personal insurance for each member of the delegation. Golden Hind Chandlery has provided major discounts on all the technical sailing clothing, through Gill. Many other small businesses have also made an extra effort to support the young people, prepared to travel such a long way to compete in an arduous, week long regatta.
Now it’s time to finalize the Mile of Quarters Campaign and celebrate with the sailors and volunteers from SOBVI by joining in a march through Road Town this Friday 20 May.
Remember the Road to Athens Papers you received in your mailbox earlier this year? This is the time to fulfill the request and donate your quarters and the rest of your loose change saved for such a worthy cause and bring it on out to the marching fans as they pass through Road Town!
This historic rally, to which all are invited, will start at Government House at 2.30pm and finish at the government’s Central Administration Complex at 3.00pm. There, Ministers of Government, senior government officials, sponsors and other well-wishers are expected to greet the Athens Special Olympics Team to bid them farewell and good luck!