SVG to host largest OECS swimming championships

St Vincent and the Grenadines will, for the first time, host the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Swimming Championships which is also expected to be the largest meet in the 26 years that the competition has been held.{{more}}

During a press conference on Tuesday at the Shrewsbury Aquatic Centre, president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Swimming Federation (SVGSF) Steven Joachim noted that over 180 persons are expected to take part in the competition from seven OECS countries.

This year’s championship will feature teams from: Antigua & Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Martinique, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). St Martin and St Maarten will also compete this year as guest teams.

Of the 180 competitors, about 30 of them will be from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Athletes representing SVG are: Kennice Greene, Brandon George, Jamie Joachim, Matthew Ballah, Zariel Nelson, Javante Browne, Kavern DaSilva, Vova Zhuravlov, Adiah Phillips, Jayson Sandy, Mya Defrietas, Eltonte Leonard, Tia Gunmunro, Tristan Ballah, Caitlin Polius, Tavonte Ford, Paige Cadogan, Alex Joachim, Akayla Crichton, Bryson George, Kenalé Alleyne, Samari Ragguette, Ria Adams, Shane Cadogan, Nyah Isaacs, Aaron Defreitas, Tyrique (Dre) Thomas, Tyrese Lewis, Shne Joachim, Nikolas Sylvester, Cruz Halbich, Dillon Gooding, Tyrell Ragguette and Gerard Gieowarsingh.

Joachim explained that SVG was selected to host the championships after the completion of the pool facilities at the Aquatic Centre.

“In preparation for hosting these championships, the SVGSF also completed a smaller learn-to-swim pool, which will be used as a warm-down pool by the swimmers,” he said.

“In addition the Swimming Federation completed substantial renovations to Shrewsbury House to provide adequate changing rooms capacity and to use the kitchen facilities for food preparation,” Joachim added.

He noted that while some of SVG’s individual swimmers are expected to do well, they do not expect SVG to walk away the winner of the championships.

“St Vincent and the Grenadines is not going to win the OECS swim championships; we do, however, have some terrific young swimmers. We expect a lot of those swimmers to bring home individual medals, but to win the team event is very difficult because we simply do not have the number of swimmers in the various categories and we are particularly weak on the female side in the age 12 and above area.

“Our elite swimmers with excellent medal potential on the male side include Nikolas Sylvester, Shane Cadogan, Eltonte Leonard, Jayson Sandy, Tavonte Forde and Alex Joachim. In addition, we expect Cruz Halbich to do very well in the Open Water event. The females will be led by Kennice Greene, Mya Defreitas and Tia Gun-Munro,” the association’s president stated.

He explained that Shne Joachim, who represented SVG at the 2016 Rio Olympics, has just resumed training and will return for the weekend to try to add to SVG’s medal count.

Joachim noted that hosting this competition will cost about $200,000 for the weekend, which includes hotel accommodation, meals and transport services.

Nikala Williams, corporate communication manager at FLOW, part sponsor of the event, stated that her company has been a sponsor of the SVGSF since inception and they intend to continue supporting them in the future.

“We too saw the vision, we too saw the talent,, we too saw the need for the pool’s expansion and I believe that you will agree that the work that has been done here so far has had a significant positive impact on the sport and also on the athletes,” Williams said.

She stated that being able to host such a prestigious event is a great accomplishment and one the SVGSF should be proud of. Apart from donating monetarily, FLOW has also installed free Wi-Fi at the centre.

Rachel Richards, the representative for CGM Gallagher Insurance Brokers Group, another sponsor of the swim meet, said that her company is committed to regional community development and they recognize the significant role that sports play in community development.

“CGM Gallagher Insurance Brokers has sponsored several sporting activities in the region and we are proud to be part of the 26th OECS Swimming Championships in SVG.”

Other major sponsors of the meet are: the National Lotteries Authority, SVG Olympic Committee and Scotiabank.

The competition is scheduled to kick off on November 10 and end on November 13, with the open water event at the Buccament Bay Resort.

On Thursday, November 10, the competition will begin at 5 p.m., with an opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m. and the relay event will follow at 7 p.m.

Competition on Friday, November 11, will begin at 10 a.m. and will run straight through the day.

On Saturday, November 12, the competition is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and awards for the pool events will be distributed after the competition ends.

On Sunday, November 13, registration for the open water event will take place between 8:15 a.m. and 9 a.m. and competition is expected to begin at 9:30 a.m. An awards and closing ceremony will follow the completion of the races.(CM)