Olympic Month calendar

VIOC

For many years we have celebrated Olympic Month

Olympic Day runs on St. Thomas and St. Croix. Recently, we have expanded our Olympic Month calendar to include more activities for you to get involved in.

All of our events are FREE!

June 11th

  1. St. Thomas Olympic Day Run – 7:30 am Magens Bay, St. Thomas. Run, jog, walk the flat 2 mile course then participate in our bare foot toga run on the beach. Official Olympic Run t-shirts to the first 75 to register. Bring your toga with you! More information here: ST. Thomas Olympic Day Run Photos

June 17th

  1. 19th International Optimist Regatta – St. Thomas Yacht Club, St. Thomas. Check out their webpage for more information.
  2. St. Croix Olympic Day Run – St. Croix Educational Complex Track. 5 pm. Run, jog, walk – Olympic Run t-shirts to the first 100 finishers! Email wallacewilliams@msn.com, visit their webpage  or click here for more information.

June 26th

  1. 9 am to 7 am Fort Frederik Beach, St. Croix. Volleyball teams 13 and up! For more information click here: Sand Slam Flyer

We look forward to your participation!

The Virgin Islands Olympic Committee is pleased to announce the winners of our 2016 “Sport for Life” Photo Contest!

VIOC

Gold

photo-contest-goldTranquility

Photo by Naela Hamad

I have countless SUP photos, but this photo is especially one of my favorites because of the feeling of tranquility I get when looking at it. It appears as though there’s no one at sea but them. One would never know upon glancing this photo, that there’s a crowded shore and numerous paddlers just a few feet away. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time, and with a vision and a camera in hand.

Silver

photo-contest-silverSwimming is for Life

Photo by Natalia Kuipers

Once you learn how to swim, you never forget, swimming is for life. It’s important to teach the younger generation to swim because we live surrounded by water. This is a photo of Matthew Lawaetz-Mays having fun and helping out a young Dolphins swimmer.

Bronze

photo-contest-bronzeSynchronized Start

Photo by Kelly Moore

Ky Odlum, 13, and Max Wilson, 11, have a synchronized start during a swim meet in St Thomas. Both swimmers continue to break their own records in various events and continue to prove themselves to be worthy competitors when traveling abroad. Ky and Max both qualified to participate in the 2016 Carifta Games, to take place in Martinique, March 22-25, 2016.

Sport for Life Photo Contest

VIOC

2016 is the year of the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this August. To kick off this year in sports, the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee is sponsoring a Sport Photography Photo Contest. This contest is open to all amateur photographers who have an incredible photograph of a Virgin Islander demonstrating “Sport for Life” – by engaging in any sport at any level.

Photographs will be judged based on the photographer’s creativity and visual skills. Subject(s) in the photograph must be of a Virgin Islands resident engaged in sport. Subject(s) level can vary from beginner to elite, young or old. Our judging panel will consist of Virgin Islanders from all three islands, who have a passion for photography, sports or both.

By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the Entry Rules and warrants that his or her entry complies with all requirements set out in the Entry Rules. Entries that are incomplete or do not adhere to the rules or specifications may be disqualified at the sole discretion of Virgin Islands Olympic Committee. You must provide the information requested. You may not enter more times than indicated by using multiple email addresses, identities, or devices in an attempt to circumvent the rules or your entry will be disqualified. There is no Entry Fee for this contest.

All photos will become property of the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee and will be displayed on the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee Facebook page, its web page and in a public space (TBA) in the Virgin Islands.

Prizes:

Gold – $1,000 Silver – $750 Bronze – $500

Honorable Mentions (5) – $50 each

Entry Rules:

1)      Each entry consists of an entry form and a single image.

2)      Each Contest entrant must be the author of the original material submitted.

3)      Entries (entry form and single image) must be emailed to: NOC@VirginIslandsOlympics.org from January 25th 2016 to February 29th 2016 11:59pm local time).

4)      Entries must be submitted in digital format but the photograph need not be taken with a digital camera. Scans of negatives or photographic prints are acceptable. Digital files must be 20 megabytes or smaller, must be in JPEG or JPG format and must be at least 1,600 pixels wide (if a horizontal image) or 1,600 pixels tall (if a vertical image).

5)      Only 1 photo per person can be entered. Only your first photo will be entered.

6)      Single frame and single exposures only.

7)      Photographs may not show the name of the photographer or any other details (those details can be in the metadata of the photo, just not visible in the photo itself).

8)      All photos must be accompanied by a caption and a three-sentence story in English.

9)      Photographers under 18 must submit a guardian consent form with their entry. Request one from the VIOC Office: Email NOC@VirginIslandsOlympics.org

10)   The copyright holders represent and warrant that submission of the pictures does not breach any law and further that no third party can hold any claims or any objections regarding the rights granted to the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee. The copyright holders will hold the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee harmless of any claims from third parties relater hereto.

11)   The Entry Rules and any dispute, proceedings or claim of whatever nature arising out of or in any way relating to the Entry Rules (including any non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by VI Law.

12)   The conditions set out in the Entry Rules are binding, and the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee reserves the right to refuse or exclude any entry at its own discretion.

USVI Women’s under 20 Soccer Squad Dominates Turks and Caicos in Impressive Series Win

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Women’s under 20 Soccer Squad Dominates Turks and Caicos
Women’s under 20 Soccer Squad Dominates Turks and Caicos

The USVI women’s U-20 national soccer team hosted Turks and Caicos for an international series which resulted in two consecutive clean sheets for the USVI.

The USVI women earned two victories over Turks and Caicos defeating them 1-0 in Friday’s match then 2-0 on the following day.

“I was proud of how we withstood the other team’s aggressive play. The defense was outstanding and the team was very focused,” said head coach Eustace Bailey.

Zola Kaza put USVI up early, scoring the only goal of the first match by attacking from the right side of the field in the 16th minute. In the second half, both sides were unable to score due to solid efforts by the two solid goalkeepers.

Bailey credited the defense, especially the strong play of Tia Hughes and goal keeper Levania Lawrence.  “The team showed great improvement since our last match versus Antigua and Barbuda,” said Bailey. “Technically we were much better.”

On the following day, USVI’s Zola Kaza remained aggressive scoring two quick goals at the 10th and 16th minute marks. The team’s defense was remained sturdy preventing Turks and Caicos from creating any opportunities.

“Zola is the brain of the team, technically and tactically she was our best player and was good on both offense and defense. She really led us this series,” said Bailey.

Zola Kaza scored all three goals for the USVI squad. She was named the most valuable player.

For more information, contact the USVI Soccer Association office at (340)-719-9707 or via email at usvisoccer@gmail.com.

Cy Thompson has sailed his way into the 2016 Olympic Games

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Cy Thompson

Coming off his Canadian Olympic Regatta win, Cy Thompson has sailed his way into the 2016 Olympic Games. The 26 year old St. Thomas native is no stranger to determination and prowess, he spent 1 month training with the Canadian Sailing team in Ontario. With a total of 15 scheduled races over 5 days, Cy’s preparation primed him for a solid start, “I stayed consistent throughout the regatta, did the math going into the last day and knew I just had to beat my closest competitor in one of the 3 races,” he said. Even with the setback of having his boat damaged before the race, Cy finished 38th which made him eligible to represent the Virgin Islands in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and gives him another shot at gold. Cy sailed for Team ISV in the London 2012 Summer Games.

Juan Robles on VITFF Grant to train at high altitude in Colombia

VIOC

Juan Robles (in dark uniform) the top long distance road runner in the Virgin Islands and track coach at the St. Croix Central High School has been awarded a training grant for high altitude training in Colombia, South America for the summer. He joined some of his college teammates when he was a student/athlete at Turabo University in Puerto Rico at one of the Olympic Training Centers in Colombia situated at over 6,000 feet and ideal for long distance training.

The VITFF granted Juan a training grant for the purpose of both assisting with further developing his running capability and for making it possible for him to gain valuable technical and philosophical training in the theoretical and practical aspects of high altitude training for use in his capacity as a coach of distance and long distance runners (Juan received his IAAF Level I Coaching Certification last year).

While in Colombia, Juan was granted permission (a requirement of host country’s national track and field federation) of VITFF to compete in the Palmira Half-Marathon (at over 3,000 feet) where he ran the race in 1:13.41 for eighth overall and in his best time since he was a college runner and the best time for a V.I. runners in the past several years.

Robles has won the V.I. Half-Marathon champion for the past five years.  His best time in the race was 1:14 when he was running for Turabo Univ. back in 2010.  His 1:13 is the best time run by a Virgin Islander since the days of George Jules, Calvin Dallas, Marlon Williams, Wallace Williams.  Danny Dickinson has the V.I. record for the half-marathon  run in the 90’s when he ran a 1:10 on a St. Croix Course.  The fastest half-marathon ever run in the Virgin Islands was 1:06 by Douglas Wakihuri in 1998 when V.I.Pace Runners organized the race from Beeston Hill to Fort Frederik to recognized the Emancipation of Enslaved Africans in the West Indies which took place at the finish line of the race.

2015 Pan Am Games

VIOC

TORONTO -Sailor Cy Thompson of St. Thomas carried the U.S. Virgin Islands flag on Friday night, leading the delegation of 18 athletes at the opening ceremony for the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

The USVI , dressed in blue and white, were one of 41 delegations in the Parade of Nations before 45,000 spectators at the sold-out Rogers Centre.

The ceremony, which was produced by Cirque du Soleil, was capped when recently retired NBA leg­ end Steve Nash, one of the most internationally recognized Canadian athletes of all time, ignited a bow l to transfer the flame to the  Games cauldron  located at the foot of the CN Tower.

More than 6,000 athletes are participating in the

Games that run through July 26. Story and Photo by Matt Schoch/Virgin Islands Daily News

2015 Virgin Islands Olympic Month Events

VIOC

On 23 June, Olympic Day is celebrated all around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people – young and old – get moving and participate in sporting and cultural activities, such as runs, exhibitions, music and educational seminars.  Over the last two decades, the event has helped to spread the Olympic ideals to every corner of the world.

Olympic Day was introduced in 1948 to commemorate the birth of the modern Olympic Games on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris.  The goal was to promote participation in sport across the globe regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

Over the last 20 years, Olympic Day has been associated with Olympic Day Runs all over the world. From 45 participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the first edition in 1987, today the large majority of the 205 NOCs our joining in.

Events

Week 1

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1. Beach Clean Up

Date: June 7th
Time: 9:00am
Location: Brewers Beach
Water & plastic gloves will be provided.

 

2. Beach Wrestling Clinic

Date: June 7th
Time: 10am
Location: Brewers Beach
Virgin Islands Wrestling Federation will demonstrate basic moves, strategies and techniques used in beach wrestling. Wear shorts and a t-shirt. – Contact: Shamsie Slaughter 340-690-8632
3. East End Road Race, including Point Udall

Date: Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 7am
Registration: Race Day 6:15am to 6:45am
Location: Castaway’s Bar & Restaurant on St. Croix’s North Side Rd.
Categories: Elite, Expert, Sport, Masters, Women.
Contact: Theresa Harper 340-513-2707

Week 2

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1. VIVF Underage Beach Volleyball Tournament

Date: June 14th
Time: 9:00am
Location: St. Croix
The tournament is open to all male and females in the territory.  Three(3) age groups U17, U19 and U21.
Registration: vivolleyballfederation@yahoo.com

Week 3

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1. International Optimist Regatta

Date: 19th -21st
Time: All Day
Location: St. Thomas Yacht Club
Registration: Online STYC.net*
Contact: Margo Lynch 340-775-6320

 

2. St. Croix Olympic Day Run 1 Mile

Date: June 20th
Time: 4:00 pm
Location: St. Croix
Registration: Calling 340-643-4557 or day of event.
Open to all ages.
Diplomas will be given to finishers. 

 

St. Thomas Olympic Day Run 1 Mile

Date: June 21st
Time: TBA
Location: St. Thomas
Registration: Call 340-643-4557 or register on the day of the event.
Open to all ages.
Diplomas will be given to all finishers.

 Week 4

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1. Kings of the Court

Event: 3on3 Kings of the Court
Date: 26th – 27th June
Time: All Day
Location: St. Croix Ed Complex Gym
Registration: Call 340-642-2857