Adams humbled by Olympic Hall of Fame induction

The first inductee of the St Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee Olympic Hall of Fame, Dr Lennox Adams, has expressed humility at being accorded the honour.{{more}}

Adams, who in 1982 piloted the formation of the National Olympic Committee, formerly the National Olympic Association, and charted the way for St Vincent and the Grenadines to become a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1987, accepted the accolade at a Gala Dinner held at the Methodist Church Hall on Thursday, June 14.

At his induction, Adams said: “I accept humbly on behalf of those who toiled with me over all those years, that I can accept happily and proudly, because I know we have passed on the worthy shoulders to those who would take this idea of the Olympic Association and the Olympic Committee forward into the future.”

Adams likened his feeling to that of parents whose children who are successful at the Common Entrance Examinations.

“I feel in a way, the way the Common Entrance parents feel as their children become successful and graduate from school; along with those other members of that first committee that got together and eventually gave birth to the Olympic Association here in St Vincent and the Grenadines. I feel almost like a parent at what that small organization at that time, has become today,” Adams said.

“I would like to say to you that this is a beginning, and any organization, any association must keep track of its history and pay honour and tribute to those sporting heroes, those icons, who have graced their group and I hope as we begin to honour persons through the year, that it will serve as inspiration to our many young athletes, coaches and our administrators,” he said.

Adams advised current members of the National Olympic Committee to continue to archive its work for posterity.

As a gesture of goodwill, Adams handed over to the NOC photographs of the first St Vincent and the Grenadines team to the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Apart from his work with the organization, Adams was an athlete of note, mainly at the triple jump and was part of the debut team to the Seoul Games.

Adams also made his mark on the track at Ouachita Baptist University, Oklahoma, USA, during the late 1980’s, while pursuing studies in medicine there.

A medical doctor by profession, Adams notched up several accolades, including being crowned inter collegiate indoor and outdoor triple jump champion for two years, 1987 and 1989.

For three consecutive years, 1987 to 1989, Adams was the NIA triple jump champion.

In 1989, Adams was the university’s Athlete of the Year.

Adams led the local Track and Field body from 1981 to 1984, then known as the St Vincent and the Grenadines Amateur Athletics Association, now Team Athletics SVG.

In the field of coaching, Adams served in that capacity at the Bishop’s College Kingstown, where he taught for eight years, from 1978 to 1986, and for St Vincent and the Grenadines at regional and international meets.

Still an avid photographer, a hobby he started while a student of the St Vincent Grammar School in the 1970’s, Adams can be seen at almost every sporting event on the mainland clicking away with his camera, as he documents performances.