The Women and Sport Commission of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) will mark International Women’s Day (IWD) today with a series of activities at the Olympic Centre, Wildey.
In 2012 the BOA hosted its first IWD event at which they highlighted young upcoming female athletes.
This year’s event, under the theme Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum, will endeavour to celebrate the achievements and advancements made by Barbadian women in all sporting arenas.
The Women and Sport Commission will continue the Her-Story initiative which takes the form of a narrative on an athlete’s career, highlighting her triumphs and challenges. It also shows the role sport plays in the athlete’s personal, professional and social development.
It is anticipated that these stories will be compiled and published in a series of books.
The activities get underway at 5 p.m. and will be hosted by Alex Jordan of SLAM 101.1FM and is open to the public.
Mona Alleyne, chairman of the Women and Sport Commission, will deliver the welcome. Also present will be Marilyn Rice-Bowen, president of the National Organization of Women, and communications specialist Sharon Carter-Burke of United Nations Women.
Karen Meakins, the multiple national squash champion, and former Barbados women’s hockey captain Maria Sealy will take part in the Her-Story segment, which will be followed by demonstrations from the gymnastics, judo and cheerleading associations as well as the ever popular zumba fitness.
During the event, a number of women who have made outstanding contributions to sport will receive awards.
They are Angela Jones (archery), Charlene Leacock (basketball), Mary Fraser (boxing), Hetty Wilson (chess), Suzanne Weekes (cycling), Di Clarke (equestrian), Roslyn Wilson (fencing), Julia Stephenson (golf), Alison Jackson (gymnastics), Andrea Nicholls (hockey), Inga Augustas (judo), Julie Phillips (netball), Penny McIntyre, Margot Tuach (surfing), Marquerita Felix (table tennis), Helen Roper (tennis), Sandra Shillingford (volleyball), Sonia O’Neal (swimming), Sylvia Darlington (football). (SAT/PR)
