St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee
Newsletter OCTOBER 5, 2012
Commonwealth Games Federation
Faster, Higher, Stronger
ISSUE: Vo2. 3
Citius Altius Fortius
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General Assembly The Annual General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) was held in Kampala, Uganda, during the period 26 – 28 September 2012. The programme featured two days of Workshops that essentially addressed the Strategic Review process undertaken by pmp legacy for and on behalf of the CGF. The Caribbean Region, led by Mrs Fortuna Belrose of St. Lucia met on 26 September to discuss the views of the members on the Strategic Review document as well as matters of interest and concern to the region. The Caribbean members of the CGF expressed the view that there was not enough communication between members and supported the establishment of an Office for the Regional Vice President as well as very clear delineation of role and responsibilities justifying such an institutional development. In respect of the Strategic Review the Assembly approved several important recommendations and reserved a decision on others, all with the intention of significantly advancing the organisation and better positioning it amongst the leading sport bodies of the world. An important matter for consideration that remains outstanding is whether or not the Americas region should be joined with that of the Caribbean. Two members of the Americas region, the Falkland Islands and St. Helena, seem favourably disposed to joining Continued on Page 2 Europe.
Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) Dr. Deanna Binder, perhaps the foremost figure in the promotion of Olympic Values education will arrive in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Saturday 6 October. While here Dr. Binder will conduct two major workshops under the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP). The first is a one-day workshop for principals of secondary schools and curriculum officers and the second, a four-day workshop for Training TrainContinued on Page 2
Editorial OCTOBER 5, 2012 2 ISSUE: Vo2. 3
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Olympic Committee, like Vincentians everywhere came away from the London Olympics 2012 a very disappointed lot. The athletes did not rise to the occasion leaving the Olympic fraternity the prime target of numerous criticisms. Few were prepared to appreciate the fact that the NOC does not have athletes. The national sports associations do. The Olympic Games done, the work of the NOC continues apace with several activities at home and abroad. The NOC continues its development work with national associations in the form of the continuation of the programme to develop a national sport structure for swimming and a scheduled Technical Course for Football in November. At least two additional Technical Courses will he convened before the end of 2012. Activities have already started in preparation for the Commonwealth Games of Glasgow 2014 with Squash being the first recipients of funding made available through the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). The funding, which started this year, will run through to 2014 for eligible sports. Vincentian school teachers, curriculum officers and secondary school principals will all be exposed to the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) via workshops conducted by eminent international curriculum specialist, Dr. Deanna Binder of Canada, who arrives in the state over the weekend. Of course the sport tourism component kicks in with her staying on for a few years of rest and relaxation (R&R) following the conclusion of the two workshops.
EDITORIAL continued on Page 3
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OLYMPIC HOUSE No. 1, Kingstown Park, Kingstown St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tel: 784-457-2970 Fax: 784-485-6412 Cell: 784-533-0869 Email: svgnoc@vincysurf.com Website: www.svgnoc.org
The General Assembly overwhelmingly supported the format of having workshops prior to the Assembly where the most critical matters can be addressed thereby eliciting the best options for going forward as an organisation. The Assembly received reports from the 2014 Organising Committee as well as the Organising Committee from the Gold Coast, Australia, host of the Games of 2018. The Organising Committee from Samoa, host of the Commonwealth Youth Games of 2015 also delivered a presentation. It hopes to get approval for hosting eight sports over a period of four days. The Commonwealth Games Association of Uganda received accolades for an excellent job of playing host to the CGF Family. The host of the General Assemblies of 2013 and 2014 is Glasgow, host of the Commonwealth Games of 2014. Glasgow informed the CGF Assembly that next year it would host the Commonwealth Sports Conference prior to the General Assembly thereby allowing for significant savings for both participants and host. The host of the General Assemblies of 2013 and 2014 is Glasgow, host of the Commonwealth Games of 2014. Glasgow informed the CGF Assembly that next year it would host the Commonwealth Sports Conference prior to the General Assembly thereby allowing for significant savings for both participants and host. Continued from page 1
Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) ers to deliver OVEP in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This latter workshop would feature educators drawn from schools and institutions around the country. There will also be one participant from Grenada. The National Olympic Academy, the educational arm of the NOC here, applied to Olympic Solidarity for the OVEP to be conducted here during the period 8 – 12 October 2012.
I.C.E.C.P. President of this country’s Volleyball Association, Eardley Martin, is currently in the U.S.A. attending the advanced coaching course in Volleyball. He is the fourth Vincentian to participate in this programme. The others were Rosmund Griffith, Khalique Bailey, and Rawlson Morgan. The ICECP is a very intensive programme.
Vasha Adams, a household name in Vincentian Basketball has become the second Vincentian and also the second female from this country to attend the three-month PAISAC advanced coaching course in Canada.
EDITORIAL continued from Page 2
The NOC, in its capacity as a Commonwealth Games Association (CGA), participated in the General Assembly of its parent organisation, the CGF. The NOC will participate in the General Assemblies of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO) later this month. In November, the NOC will participate in a Best Practices Seminar of the Americas in Mi-
ami, Florida, hosted by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), under the aegis of the Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO). PASO Vice President, Keith Joseph, will be one of the Rapporteurs at the USOC Seminar. Later this month through to December the NOC will facilitate Strategic Planning sessions for its members and culminate in a session for itself to plan for the next four years. The audit of the NOC’s finances will also be completed before the end of the year.
ISSUE: Vol. 2. 3
International Support Program to African and Caribbean Sport
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P.A.I.S.A.C.
OCTOBER 5, 2012
International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program
CANOC OCTOBER 5, 2012 4 ISSUE: Vo2. 3
CANOC General Assembly National Olympic Committees and Commonwealth Games Associations (in countries where there are no NOCs) from across the Caribbean will wing into Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, during the period 26 – 29 October 2012. They will first participate in the General Assembly of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) officially established since 2003, which will take place on 27 October. The Assembly will receive reports from the Education and Training Commission, which has been organising Workshops in tandem with Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) and the organising Committee of the Pan American Games scheduled for Toronto, Canada, in 2015 (TO2015). The Assembly would also receive reports from the Executive Committee and discuss matters that are likely to feature at the General Assembly of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Organisation (CACSO). In related news, CANOC would be in attendance at the CARICOM Meeting of Ministers and Officials of Sport in Guyana during the period 8 – 10 October. CANOC would also make a presentation on the Caribbean Games at the CARICOM Forum.
CANOC/TO2015 Workshop Postponed On Wednesday morning as Theon Gordon prepared himself to leave for Jamaica to attend the CANOC/TO2015 workshop on Physical Education and social development, he received the news that the activity had suddenly been postponed.
CACSO
CACSO General Assembly The CACSO General Assembly will take place in Cayman islands on 28 and 29 October, immediately following the conclusion of the CANOC General Assembly. Among the major issues to be discussed at the CACSO General Assembly will be consideration of the introduction of a CAC Beach Games much like that which has been established in Asia. A CACSO Commission headed by Vice President Steve Stoute, will report to the Executive on the matter prior to the Assembly. Also down to report to the Executive Committee is the Commission, also headed by Steve Stoute, that evaluated the bid by Quatzequalcos, Guatemala, to host the CAC Games of 2018. The Technical Commission, fresh from a visit to Vera Cruz, host of the CAC Games of 2014, will report to the Executive as well. CACSO oversees the oldest multisport Games after the Olympics, the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, having been established in 1926, 30 years after the first edition of the modern Olympics in 1896.
News of the postponement came in the wake of relatively poor response from NOCs and CGAs across the Caribbean. Despite being made aware of the dates of the workshop at the CANOC General Assembly in Basseterre, St Kitts, last November, several CANOC members seem uncertain about their participation. On 2 October, the Jamaican Olympic Association, host of the event, opted for postponement after receiving confirmed participation from six of the 27 CANOC participants. Jamaica would have med the participation list climb to seven. While attending the CGF General Assembly in Kampala a week earlier, the CANOC leadership sought confirmation from members only to be disappointed as the start date approached.
AQUATICS AQUATICS NATIONAL SPORT STRUCTURE OCTOBER 5, 2012 5 ISSUE: Vol. 2. 3
Swimming here has been in receipt of a significant boost of fortunes since the NOC approved a 6-month course, development of a national sport structure for the Association still in its infancy here. Barbadian, David Farmer, has been the prime expert in the conduct of this important programme. Since July the programme got started. While here Farmer has conducted a Caribbean Coaches Certification Programme (CCCP) course for swimming coaches. He is also currently involved in the training of technical officials for the sport. The development of the larger pool, albeit unfortunately just short of 25m – the FINA approved short course facility – has led to an increase in interest in the sport. The NOC saw the need for the extended assistance package to the Association which now hosts regular training seesiona nd has witnessed the emergence of swimming clubs in this country. In the recent past, the NOC facilitated a twoweek Camp for people interested in learning to swim. This also served as a Talent Identification Programme for the Association. Since the start of the new academic year the Girls High School has been involved in a oncea-week training programme on Wednesdays at the pool at Shrewsbury House, Ratho Mill, headquarters of the Swimming Association. On Saturday 6 October the Association would hold official trials to select the national representative team to the OECS Championships scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda. Saturday’s activity will also serve as a fund-raiser for the Association. The Association hopes to be represented at the FINA World Short Course Championships later this year in Istanbul, Turkey, one of the cities bidding to host the Summer Olympic Games of 2020.
ATHLETICS NACAC OECS/International Road Relay OCTOBER 5, 2012 6 ISSUE: Vo2. 3
The streets of Kingstown will be the competition arena for the first in the Annual Road Race Series of Team Athletics St. Vincent and the Grenadines (TASVG) on the afternoon of Sunday 7 October 2012. The feature event would be the OECS/ International Classic that pits defencing Champions, Grenada, against St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica and host, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The four-lap event is expected to be far more exciting than last year when only Grenada and the host country participate din this segment. The local segments will witness first, starting at 3.00pm, competition in the Primary Schools competition, both male and female. The Secondary Schools segment and then the Open category will follow this. Finally the international athletes will take centrestage.