SVGNOC marks multiple milestones with gala event

The St Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee, on June 14, held a Gala Dinner at the Methodist Church in Kingstown, to commemorate several milestones.{{more}}

Dubbed, “An evening of Olympic Sporting Excellence”, the decor of the venue truly befitted the occasion.

Among the reasons for the event were the commemoration of the thirtieth year since the establishment of the National Olympic Committee here, as well acknowledgement of the NOC’s 25th anniversary of membership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Thursday’s event also highlighted twenty years of coming into being of the National Olympic Academy, which is the education arm of the NOC.

Additionally, homage was also paid to 54 years of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ participation in the Commonwealth Games, which were previously known as the British Empire Games, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games and the British Commonwealth Games.

This country’s first participation in the Commonwealth Games was in 1958 in Cardiff, Wales.

The spotlight on Thursday night also fell on Wayne Williams, who received the IOC award for his contribution to the development of Sports in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The highlight of Thursday’s Dinner, however, was the launch of the national Olympic Hall of Fame. Dr Lennox Adams, the first President of the NOC, then known as the National Olympic Association, was made the first inductee.

The Olympic Hall of Fame will recognize athletes, coaches, technical officials, administrators, sponsors and volunteers of the Olympic movement in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Also on the night, a specially designed watch for St Vincent and the Grenadines for this year’s London Olympic Games was unveiled.

Basil Charles, Team Attaché to this year’s Olympics Games, was the person instrumental in having the watch designed. Charles was the first to be presented with the specially designed watch on the night.

Watches were presented to the chief of missions of St Vincent and the Grenadines teams to previous Olympic Games, as well as the Minister of Tourism, Youth and Sports Cecil Mc Kie.

The NOC of St Vincent and the Grenadines was officially established on January 6, 1982, with this country’s membership to the IOC formalized on March 27, 1987, while the NOA began on November 11, 1992.

St Vincent and the Grenadines was the first in the English Speaking Caribbean to establish a NOA.

Another first for the English Speaking Caribbean was St Vincent and the Grenadines’ publication of a book, chronologizing the activities of the NOC, named: “Our History”- 1982-2010. The book was launched March 27, this year, at a ceremony held at Frenches House.

The featured Speaker at last Thursday night’s event was Larry Romary, President of the National Olympic Committee of Trinidad and Tobago.

Solidarity for the momentous occasion came from representatives of other National Olympic Committees in the region, including Steve Stoute, President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC). (RT)