Flag raisers from the British Army raise a British Virgin Islands flag during the Olympic Team Welcome Ceremony at the Olympic Village for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 17, 2012, in London. Opening Ceremonies for the London Olympics will be held Friday July 27, 2012.
Photo Credit: Daily Hearald
Flag raisers from the British Army raise a British Virgin Islands flag during the Olympic Team Welcome Ceremony at the Olympic Village for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 17, 2012, in London. Opening Ceremonies for the London Olympics will be held Friday July 27, 2012.
Photo Credit: Daily Hearald
The British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (BVIOC) has formally disclosed that London 2012 qualifier, Tahesia Harrigan-Scott will be the flag bearer at the opening ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games which takes place on Friday, July 27.
Harrigan-Scott, who qualified for the Games last year, will represent the BVI in the women´s 100m event. She will run in the preliminaries on August 3. Chantel Malone, Karene King, and Ashley Kelly were three of the hopefuls to have narrowly missed the qualifying marks for London 2012.
"This is the eighth consecutive Summer Olympic Games in which the BVI will be represented," said Ephraim Penn, BVIOC President in a media release.
"I know that the BVIOC echoes the nation in expressing its pride and support for Tahesia´s best efforts in her event. We also want to acknowledge the hard work and the tireless commitment from the other athletes who represented the BVI in the series of international competitions in the lead up to the Games with hopes of shaving off fractions of a second to make the qualifying times for London 2012. We are equally proud of their achievements to date and we look forward to supporting their endeavours as they prepare for the future Games including the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games."
The BVIOC stated that as part of its mandate they will provide support to athletes participating in the upcoming Central American and Caribbean Games (2014), the Commonwealth Games (2014), the Winter Olympic Games (2014), the Pan American Games (2015), as well as the Summer Olympic Games (2016).
J´Maal Alexander, a national record holder with the fastest track time in his age group, will run in the men´s 100m.
According to the BVIOC, his selection resulted from an International Olympic Committee (IOC) invitation for the BVI to send a non-qualifying, wild card. The BVIOC pointed out that the Ministry of Culture, Education and Sport took the opportunity to send Mr. Alexander to experience the Olympic Games.
The athletes are accompanied by national coach and Chef de Mission, Mr Dag Samuels, personal coach Mr Winston Potter, physicians Dr Tattersall and Dr LEsperance, and physiotherapist, Dr Salcedo.
The delegation will be accommodated in the Olympic Village during the Games.
London 2012 has been the gateway for the unique partnership agreement between the BVI and Hertfordshire County Council which was signed in 2011.
The initiative builds on the Olympic relationship between the BVI and HCC established in 2009 through the Hertfordshire Ready for Winners Partnership (HRFPW) and supports the objectives of the UK Government´s strategy for the Overseas Territories that includes strengthening ties between the United Kingdom and the OTs. The success of the cordial agreement was illustrated by the warm invitation for the BVI´s athletes to stay with host families in Aston located nearby to the official training camp and facilities.
As part of the BVI / HCC MOU, and in the spirit of friendship, host families also extended their offer of hospitality to the members of the Enis Adams Primary School Hawks Dance team. The young cultural ambassadors attended the flag raising ceremony at the Olympic Village and executed their first performance at a reception hosted by the BVI London Office. The dancers´ other appearances include performances at a welcome function at Aston City, a Rotary dinner, and a reception at BVI London House.
Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (right) and J’maal Alexander
Photo Credit: Comet24
Tahesia Harrigan-Scott (right) and J’maal Alexander
Photo Credit: Comet24
The BVIOC held a series of London 2012 count down events under the campaign theme, `Time for London 2012´.
The campaign is supported by presenting sponsor LIME, BVI London Office, Friends of the BVI, Harneys, and Thornton Smith. Photos and news of Time for London 2012 events along with updates on the Games can be found on the BVIOC page on Facebook.
The BVIOC is also inviting the public to the Tortola Sports Club to watch the live broadcast of the parade of all competing nations and the entrance of the Olympic Flame, which ignites the Cauldron and signals the start of the Games. The broadcast is expected to start at 4.00pm.
The BVIOC stated that it relies on a committee of volunteers and an executive director who work on a year-round basis to provide practical and financial support for the territory´s National Federations and their athletes representing the nation in international games.
In addition to providing funding for sports gear and equipment, all uniforms, travel, accommodation, and meals for the athletes and their support team, the BVIOC undertakes the administration required for accreditation and participation in the games.
According to the BVIOC, funding is sourced from Olympic Solidarity (OS), and Pan American Sports Organisation (PASO), sponsors, and fundraising efforts.
