Thursday, July 16, 2009

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BOA Chief seeks reimbursement for funds spent By DAHALIA SMITH ~ NG Sports Reporter ~ dahalia@nasguard.com: A $6,000 reimbursement is being sought after by the Bahamas Olympic Association (BOA) from Bahamasair and Caribbean Star Airlines, as a result of the cancellation of the inaugural Caribbean Games amidst H1N1 (swine) flu concerns. Recently, the Caribbean Games Organizing Committee noted that "there was too great of a risk of spreading swine flu", seeing as several Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname volleyball players tested positive for the virus after attending a 2010 FIVB World Championships qualifier in Mexico. BOA President Wellington Miller said tickets were purchased in advanced for the tennis and boxing team members, the Chef de Mission, the team's doctor and himself for the games previously slated for this July 12-19 in Trinidad. Tickets however were not bought for members of the third team sanctioned by the BOA to represent The Bahamas, track and field. Miller and his executives will commence discussion in regards to reimbursement with the airlines this week. In the meantime he expressed disappointment about the games cancellation, highlighting that it is a missed opportunity. "I really wanted to see a Caribbean English-speaking country host a sporting event of this magnitude just to prove to the rest of the world that it could be done successfully. Also, I am sure that it would have been great and high caliber competition," said Miller. Cuba has been designated the location for the next Caribbean Games in 2013. Until then the BOA chief will be fully occupied with other relative duties. "Right now we are getting ready for the Central American and Caribbean Games this July. Next year is a very busy time for all Olympic bodies. As far as the BOA is concerned, for the first time ever, we are preparing to attend the 2010 Winter Olympics, then there is the World Youth Championships in August, after that is the Commonwealth Games," said Miller. Miller further noted that in a bid to prepare for the next three years leading up to the 2012 London Olympics, he is slated to attend several International Olympic Committee meetings. In August, he and BOA Vice President Algernon Cargill are scheduled to attend the International Olympic Committee (governing body for Olympic sports) Solidarity Fund meeting. At that meeting, Olympic body representatives will learn how to tap into monetary resources provided by the IOC to assist with Olympic athletes' training. Concerning the Winter Games, Miller was referring to Korath Wright, a 23-year-old half pipe snowboarder with Bahamian roots, who is expected to represent The Bahamas at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, from February 18-28. Wright qualified for the Winter Olympics since last year but set himself aside in a field of 40 at a Telus event earlier this year. A successful completion of a hand plant stand helped Wright win his respective category. Two others attempted the hand plant trick but failed. Tuesday, June 30, 2009