With one year to go to the opening of the summer Olympic Games in London in 2012, the British High Commission in Barbados held a reception for the who’s who of sports and other interests at the commissioner’s residence, Ben Mar, Pine Hill, on Wednesday night.
Acting High Commissioner Phil Culligan welcomed general secretary of the Barbados Olympic Association, Erskine Simmons; Acting Director of Sports Mona Alleyne, business magnate Sir Charles Williams, the medal-winning Special Olympics team and other national athletes and federation executives with the news that most of the facilities in London had been completed on time and within budget.
Culligan also disclosed that three-and-a-half million tickets had already been sold and a quarter-million people had been accepted as volunteers.
“The athletes’ village will be converted into 1 000 portable homes after the event,” he added.
The acting high commissioner also indicated that throughout the world more than 8 000 people had been nominated to be one of the lucky Olympic torch bearers leading into the opening of the games.
The first events – the marathon and walk – have also been structured to expose the natural beauty of London to the participants and viewers.
During the night, prizes were also given to Facebook competition winners Olivia Gittens of Barbados and Henderson Wenham of Dominica who correctly answered a quiz to show their knowledge of the Olympics-related construction taking place in London.
President of the Paralympic Association of Barbados, Wesley Worrell, was also given the chance to tell the audience about Barbados’ latest foray into the sport of goalball.
The Barbados team, who were present at the reception, will be taking part in the Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, with a view to qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. (KB)
