The Virgin Islands Olympic Committee is proud to announce that three Virgin Islands athletes have been recently awarded "Sochi 2014 Olympic Scholarships” by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Olympic Scholarship provided by the Olympic Solidarity Program of IOC is aimed at the athletes preparing and attempting to qualify for XXII Olympic Winter Games to be held in Sochi, Russia in 2014.

From thousands of qualified applications submitted by the National Olympic Committees from all over the world, only few hundreds of athletes have received the scholarships.

All recipients of the scholarship had to have a sufficient technical level to be able to qualify for the Sochi Winter Olympic Games. They also had to participate in international competitions recognized by the International Winter Sports Federations during the past (2011/2012) winter season.

Olympic Scholarship provides each individual athlete up to $1,000 per month to cover training facilities fees, coaching fees, and costs for their participation in Olympic qualification competitions.

Once awarded, the scholarship is conditional until the qualification of the athlete for the XXII Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.

In order to follow the progress of each athlete towards Olympic qualification, the athlete has to provide on regular basis, a full evaluation report on his/her training and results achieved.

Selected athletes for "Sochi 2014" Olympic Scholarships from the U.S. Virgin Islands are:

1. Jasmine Campbell (21) from St. John in Alpine Skiing;
2. Veronica Gaspar (17) from St. Jon, in Alpine Skiing;
3. Kathryn Tannenbaum (27) from St. Thomas in Skeleton.

All three Virgin Islands athletes are currently training in the United States. Jasmine Campbell is in Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington. Veronica Gaspar trains in Sun Valley Ski Academy, Sun Valley, Idaho. Kathryn Tannenbaum is training with the U.S. Skeleton Team in Park City, Utah. All three athletes have a busy winter season schedule ahead of them.  The scholarships will make a significant difference to their ability to prepare themselves for what will be an demanding and expensive training for the 2014 Sochi Olympic selection.

VIOC President Angel Morales & Secretary General Lyn Reid attended the 9th annual meeting of the Caribbean Association of Olympic Committees on October 27 in the Grand Cayman's. This organization represents all the National Olympic Committees’ within the Caribbean. It's goals are to promote the development of all sports in the Caribbean region and support the development of team sports as well as administrative framework assistance.

On October 29th Angel Morales & Lyn Reid attended the 44th Annual Meeting of the Caribbean and Central American Olympic Committees. President Morales, is also a member of CANOC Executive Committee. During this meeting presentations were made by the hosts of the 2014 CAC Games from Vera Cruz Mexico, the 2nd Annual Youth Olympics from Nanijng, the 2015 Pan America Games from Toronto and finally the bid city Quetzaltenango Guatemala for the CAC Games of 2018.

On Oct 26 –28, 2012, the International Olympic Committee Women and Sport Commission held its Continental Seminar in Mexico City for the Region of the Americas and the Caribbean. There were 55 countries represented to include the USVI.

Anita Franz, Chairperson of the International Olympic Committee’s Women and Sport Commission was in attendance as well of Nicole Hoevertsz, Past Chair of PASO. The Seminar training was done by Gabriela Mueller Mendoza and Fabian Smadja, who are experts on Communication and Business Dynamics.

The Theme of the Conference was I Want to, I Can, I Will. The focus on developing working teams for better communication for Women working in Sports and Sports Administration.
The three days were broken down into Self Presentation, Public Awareness, and Personality Assessments for greatest success in Developmental Progress of an organization.

We were all given and DISC assessment and made aware of how each personality type works together for the greatest success and profit level for Sports Management and engaging others to participate and develop stronger leaders.

We were given certificate and enjoy to be a defining force on each of our NOC’s and individual sports. Encouraged to look at the demographics of the girls and women in sports, and utilize that information through research and development to build the number of females competing and being involved in Sports Management.

The networking was outstanding, as there was a mixture of for Olympians, Head of Sport Federations, Member of NOC and IF’s as well as Legal Counsel and Public Relations Officers. The break out sessions allowed for each person in their specialty area, to not only share their expertise, but work with other to gain a greater understand of how all disciplines can work together for greater success.

This was a great experience. I am grateful for the opportunity to have attended, and hope to bring all of the information to our organization.

Sheelene Gumbs
Chair
USVI WSC

At the 46^th Annual General Assembly of the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (VIOC), held Saturday, September 29, 2012, elections were held for the five executive officers to hold office for the next four years.

Hans Lawaetz, President of the VIOC for the past 16 years, Secretary General for the previous 20 years, and having served a total of 40 years on the VIOC, preferred not to run for re-election.

Mr. Leonard W. Bonelli, Sr. (Brother B), after serving for 36 years as Treasurer of the VIOC and having served a total of 40 years, decided to retire and not run for re-election.

All 23 of the VIOC member Sport Federations attended the Annual General Assembly, including the five executive officers, for a total of 28 eligible voting members.

The following officers were elected:

• President – Mr. Angel L. Morales (Chico) – served as Secretary General for the past 16 years and as St. Croix Vice President for the previous 8 years.
• Secretary General – Ms. Lyn Reid – served as Vice President for St. Thomas for the past 20 years and as Chef de Mission for the 2000 and 2012  Olympic Games.
• Treasurer – Mr. Joseph Boschulte – on the Board of Directors for the Virgin Islands Golf Federation.
• Vice President St. Croix – Mr. John Abramson – Vice President of the Virgin Islands Basketball Federation for the past 30 years.
• Vice President St. Thomas – Mr. Ansen Sligar – President of the Virgin Islands Wrestling Federation for the past 8 years and Director of the Virgin Islands Olympic Academy .
• Honorary President – Hans Lawaetz – elected by acclamation
• Honorary Treasurer – Mr. Leonard W. Bonelli, Sr. – elected by acclamation.

Jane Crossman - Essex, England

My Olympic journey began 7 years ago when we won the bid to host the Greatest Show on Earth and I registered my interest with LOCOG 2012.

I am an Administrator in the Special Needs department at a local College, but with my 3 wonderful sons now at Uni and beyond, I thought what a fantastic opportunity it would be, to be part of welcoming the world to London.

Being offered the role of Games Maker was a great personal achievement and with the help of work, friends and most importantly my family, I am proud to be assigned to the Virgin Islands delegation. and privileged to meet Lyn, our lovely Chef de Mission and her team.

My Games Maker friends, Kieran, Joe and Karen are also making this an amazing experience and my admiration to the dedication and achievements of the athletes is immense. Good luck everyone!

Karen Stokes

Hello Virgin Islanders, I'm Karen - an NOC assistant at the London 2012 Olympic Games.  I have been assigned to your country and have found the experience an extremely enjoyable one.  Everyone I have met so far has been wonderful, particularly Lyn Reid who has welcomed me and my fellow volunteers with open arms.  It has been a pleasure working with her.  I took part in the Team Welcome Ceremony prior to the official Opening Ceremony and felt very proud to be associated with the Virgin Islands.  Applying for the volunteer programme started three years ago and has been the best thing I have ever done.  It is a unique experience that only a select few are involved with and I am privileged to be one of them. 

Away from the Olympics, I work as a Personal Assistant for an accountancy firm, and I run (probably jog really!) and cycle regularly.  I still live and work in Luton where I was born, which is just north of London.  I am very proud of my hometown and support it's football (soccer) team avidly.  I come from a very close knit family and they all live locally too - that's my mum, dad, sister and brother.

Joe Richards

Hello Virgin Islands! Two years ago, when the process of getting involved at the London 2012 Olympic Games began, I only hoped of landing the great role that I have been lucky enough to, working with the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee lead by our super Chef de Mission, Lyn Reid.

Having lived in London for 6 years and enjoyed a variety of careers from directing various music shows at MTV, helping run our family business, volunteering in medical settings, to pulling pints in a local east London pub, as well as a keen swimmer and cyclist myself, I am delighted to welcome the world to my home city and be host to the great Olympians of the Virgin Islands.

As assistants to the delegation of athletes and officials while here in the UK, myself Jane, Karen and Keiran aim to make their visit as memorable as possible, and to do everything we can to leave the athletes and their team able focus on their priority - going for Gold!

I really am delighted to be part of the London 2012 Olympics and especially privileged to be able to work with the world class athletes and the Olympic delegation of the fantastic (and especially friendly) Virgin Islands.. go VI!

Kieran Sullivan

Hi Virgin Islanders, My name is Kieran Sullivan and it is my privilege to work as an assistant to your wonderful Olympic Committee during London 2012.

I live in a town called Banbury in the middle of England (near the Cotswold) with my family, wife Denise, daughter Courtney (18), and son Jordon (15) and when I heard about the chance to volunteer for “the Greatest Show on Earth” I couldn’t turn it down. I love all sports and want to help all “our” athletes in any way possible so that they enjoy their best games ever. My message to them all is “PB+” Better than your Best. If they leave London having produced their best ever, I would like to think that I and my other assistant colleagues contributed in some small way and will also leave London having produced my best ever for the VI.

If you have more airline miles than you'll ever use or that will be expiring before you can take advantage of them, donate them now. Our Virgin Islands Olympians need your help in sending a family member to support them at the games. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/J63TZN8

Thank you for participating in the annual Olympic Day activities. On Saturday June 23, 2012 The 26^th the Olympic Day Run was held at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School track in St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Runners, joggers and walkers of all ages took part. The participants completed a mile at their own pace. 

• Walkers started at 5pm and completed four laps around the track
• The 15 min per mile group started at 5:30
• The 10min per mile group started at 5:45pm
• The 7 min per mile group started at 6pm
• The 6 min per mile group started at 6:15pm. 

Results

It was a busy week for the V.I. national record holder in the 100m, 200m and 400m. The Ponce performances, including her 3^rd place finish in the 100m in 11.24 is a strong indication that Jones-Ferrette is at least back to earlier form compared to times over the past three years as she continues into her professional outdoor season and it puts her among the top twenty in the world for the event.  The field at Ponce included world-class sprinters: Tianna Madison USA 1^st 22.07 (as of Sat. the second fastest time in the world); Janema Tarmoh USA 2^nd 22.66; Jones-Ferrette ISV 3^rd 22.93; Porsche Lucas Jamaica 23.15; 4^th  Simone Face Jamaica 23.17 5^th ; Patricia Hall Jamiaca 6^th 23.24; Carol Rodriquez Puerto Rico 23.75 7^th and Genoiska Cancel Puerto Rico 8^th 24.39.

Notes:

1]  The Ponce Grand Prix is an IAAF Challenge Meet which extends invitations to top world competitors preparing for and/or looking for qualifying marks for the London Olympics. 

2] The Ponce Grand Prix presents a clear picture of how track and field has evolved in Puerto Rico.  On Saturday night, the Paquito Montaner Stadium had 11,000 plus people show up to see the last event, not to mention the thousands watching the meet on TV, the 400m hurdles when their countryman Javier Colson ran a world leading 48.00!  V.I. National Team Member Leslie Murray competes in the 400mh and at that level, and he is making his attempt at the London qualifier, he is less than a half second from doing so.

"This race is very special for me and it gives me a lot of motivation in my preparation for the Olympics. This is my hometown and I am really happy to run a fast race for my people. I will continue to work hard to hear my national anthem sung in London," Culson told a frenzied crowd after the race.

3] Puerto Rico is closest to home that Laverne Joes-Ferrette has competed as a professional. The only other option she or any of the half-dozen V.I. world-class track and field athletes would have would be the British Virgin Islands which has a certified IAAF track. While in Ponce she participated in a live interview on local St. Croix radio station/s.                    

 4] Jones-Ferrette leaves for Daegu,South Korea on Sunday to compete in the Colorful Daegu Championship. Her performances increase the number of V.I. National Team Members who have qualified for the London Olympics to four:

Tabarie Henry 400m (“A” Standard)

Laverne Jones 100m and 200m (“A” Standard)

Allison Peter 100m and 200m (“A” Standard)

Muhammad Halim Triple Jump (“B” Standard)

5] This is historic for the Virgin Islands as it will be the first time that this many V.I. track and field athletes will qualify for the Olympics and compete in so many events since the existing [very stiff] qualifying standards have been instituted. It will be a challenge for any country in the world as small as the Virgin Islands to have as many qualified athletes in track and field in the London Olympic Games.