NATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY Sport & Environment

The environment was identified with sport in a very special way when the Centennial Olympic Congress, the Congress of Unity, held in Paris in 1994, recognized its importance to the clarion call for sustainable development.

As a result of the discussions at the Congress, the Inter‑ national Olympic Commi.ee (IOC) included a paragraph on Sport and the Environment in the Olympic Charter.

More importantly the IOC regards the environment as the third dimension of Olympism. The other dimensions are sport and culture.

In 1995 the IOC created a Sport and Environment Com‑ mission to advise the IOC Executive Board on what policy the IOC and Olympic Movement should adopt in terms of environmental protection and support for sustainable development and, through its members, support the IOC programmes and activities in this field.

Sport and the Environment The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sport and the En‑ vironment Commission, operating under the ambit of the National Olympic Academy, the educational arm of the NOC, is mandated to facilitate awareness of all issues relating to the IOC’s commitment to the environment through sport.

This Sport and Environment Commission was formed in October 2007. It has been involved in the design and

placement of billboards such as the two located at the Ar‑ nos Vale Sporting Complex, the education of students at the nation’s schools, community based sports organisa‑ tions, national sports associations and the public at large; on the role that sport can and must play in the preserva‑ tion of our environment, protecting our country for future generations.

Sport is integral to the broader national development process and its inherent positive values facilitate the en‑ hancement of the quality of life of all Vincentians. All participants in sport must be sensitive to the importance of maintaining a healthy environment at all times and to encourage those with whom they come into contact to do likewise.

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

NATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY Sport and the Environment Commission

Sports people and sporting organisations must commit themselves to: • minimize adverse environmental impacts and effects; • provide sustainable environmental legacies, such as rehabilitated and revitalized sites; • assist in developing improved environmental policies and practices; • promote environmental awareness; • encourage and facilitate strong environmental actions;

Vincy says

“Protect the environment, dispose of waste wisely.”

• promote the educational value of good example; • celebrate World Environment Day, 5 June, annually.

Welcome ZIMBABWE and WEST INDIES Zimbabwe tour of West Indies 3 ODI: West Indies v Zimbabwe Arnos Vale Sporting Complex

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE NATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY

Junior Olympians tree planting at the Arnos Vale Sporting Complex

P. O. Box 1644, Kingstown St. Vincent, and the Grenadines Tel: +1 784 457 2970 ~ Cell: +1 784 533 0869 Fax: +1 784 485 6412 Email: svgnoc@vincysurf.com www.svgnoc.org

St. Vincent and the Grenadines March 10, 12, 14, 2010

Welcome to Arnos Vale ...

When on an idyllic Vincentian/Caribbean day in Febru‑ ary, 1972, then Premier, now the late, Rt Hon. Robert Mil‑ ton Cato, distinguished governor, Sir Hywell George and Minister of Community Development, Hon. Levi Latham, declared the Arnos Vale Sports Complex officially open, there were only a few among the gathering who were dreaming that this sporting facility would eventually be host to a Test Match involving the West Indies.

Origins Prior to 1960, the area now occupied by the E. T. Joshua Airport, constituted a massive recreational arena called the King George V Playing Field.

This was the venue of horse‑racing and some cricket.

However, the very popular Cork Cup Cricket Competi‑ tion, the forerunner of the current Windward Islands Cricket Tournament, was first played at the King George V Playing Field before shifting to Victoria Park as the Goodwill Series.

Since 1960, therefore, the search was on for a new play‑ ing facility to fill the void created by the loss of the King George V Playing Field. This was highlighted when lo‑ cal Cricket President, Gideon Cordice, while addressing a gathering during the Windward Islands Cricket Tourna‑ ment hosted by St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 1966, emphasised the need for a major Cricket Ground in the country; one that will enable the nation to host games at the broader regional and international levels.

A new facility is born It was the few farseeing and commiDed visionaries who approached Premier Cato with the idea. The Executive Council readily bought into the idea and quickly ap‑ proved the handing over of the area.

Then, by Ordinance No. 22 of 1968 on 27 June 1968, the Legislative Council established the Arnos Vale Playing Field Board, the body to which the veritable herculean task of transform‑ ing the sixteen acres of ‘bad bush’ and swamp into a playing arena of some stature, was handed over.

The then Administrator, Hywell George, later to become Governor, took on the leadership role of Chair‑ man of the new Board. Frank Thom‑ as, former captain of the national cricket team, was Secretary.

Meanwhile, Gideon Cordice, took his campaign to anoth‑ er level. He made representation before the West Indies Cricket Board of Control(WICBC) at its meeting in 1969.

There he pleaded the case for St. Vincent and the Grena‑ dines to gain access to First Class Matches. This boldness was met with success. The meeting of the WICBC, agreed that should St. Vincent and the Grenadines establish a sound turf wicket in time, the country will be allowed to host a game involving the touring New Zealand team, in 1972.

The Turf Wicket The grassing of Arnos Vale #1 was a tedious task. For the turf wicket, seeds were imported from Florida. Three strips were laid.

With assistance from the Commonwealth Caribbean Tech‑ nical Scheme, Seymour Brookes of Barbados, who was working in Grenada at the time, was brought over to St. Vincent to lay the wicket and train local groundsmen, Pat‑ rick John (Tall Boy) and Gordon Husbands(Shorty). It was Seymour Brookes who ensured not only that the wicket was laid in 1971, but also that it was of such a standard as to meet the objective set by Cordice and his Executive ‑ to serve national, regional and international cricket in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for many years to come.

Buildings There are many who can be credited for their contribution to the construction work at Arnos Vale, far too numerous to mention here.

The facility was enclosed with blocks, the vast majority made by the devoted workers. Next, came the Players’ Pavilion, P. H. Veira Stand, the Broadcast Booth and two wooden stands.

The wooden stands between the P. H. Veira Stand and the Players’ Pavilion, were constructed in the 1980s. There is only one of these in existence now. It has been relocated

to the South East end of Arnos Vale #1.

The Players’ Pavilion was a contribution of the St. Vincent Jaycees and Lions.

Expansion The transformation of this scenic sporting facility contin‑ ues under the watchful eyes of the National Sports Coun‑ cil which now has responsibility for its development and maintenance.

The entire playing arena was redone, new double‑decker stands erected to the south east, a media centre to the south, a new players’ pavilion to the north east, while the old players pavilion was refurbished and established as the President’s Suite and the National Sports Council provided with refurbished headquarters with offices for international cricket officials.

The capacity is now approximately 12,000.

The Wilf Slack Nets are in place, used by local and visiting cricket teams alike.

Good Hosts Over the years, St Vincent and the Grenadines has had its fair share of international cricketing celebrities.

The country did host the New Zealanders in 1972, as promised by the WICBC. In 1981 England came, with the likes of BoycoD, Willis, Gooch, Willey and old. They were followed by Pakistan, England again, Australia and New Zealand, all of whom were excited as much by the excellence of Arnos Vale as by the enthusiasm of a sporting nation second to none.

The great Viv Richards has played on this beautiful field, so too has Michael Holding, Andy Roberts, majestic Brian Lara, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, to name a few of the best the West Indies has to offer.

This is the home of Charlie Ollivierre, Alfie Roberts, Mi‑ chael Findlay, Winston Davis, Ian Allen, Cameron Cuffy and Nixon Mc Lean, all of whom have represented St. Vincent, the Windward Islands and the West Indies on the cricket field.

An Invitation St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been described as “the natural place to be” by all visitors to our island, also called the “Gem of the Antilles.”

Everywhere, the average visitor finds an aDraction that beckons him/her to return and enjoy the “good life.”

The entire people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, world renowned for their warmth and hospitality wel‑ comes you the visitor and especially the cricket enthusiast.