The Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) Inc. has announced a four-member team that will proudly represent Barbados at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. The announcement was made on Wednesday, July 10, at a press conference at the BOA’s Headquarters, Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, Wildey.
Team Barbados comprises two sprinters, Sada Williams and Tristan Evelyn, who have qualified for the 400m Round 1 and 100m Preliminary Round, respectively. Matthew Wright, a triathlete, qualifying for the Men’s Individual, and swimmer Jack Kirby, qualifying for the 100m Freestyle – Heat 1. Williams has been chosen as the Team Barbados female flag bearer, and Kirby will be the male flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony scheduled for Friday, July 26, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.
There was also the unveiling of the official Barbados uniforms for the Games. International sportswear manufacturer Puma has partnered with the BOA for the third consecutive Olympic Games.
This year’s team is the smallest since 2000. President of the BOA Sandra Osborne expressed that the four-person squad has achieved the distinction of qualifying to compete among 10,500 athletes worldwide. Describing the journey to Paris 2024 as demanding, Ms. Osborne encouraged support for Team Barbados, urging Barbadians across the world to follow the athletes’ Olympic journey.
“Our athletes proudly wear our colours, and yes, they carry our national pride onto the field of play. They symbolise all our sporting dreams. We must, therefore, lift them up and not tear them down. The journey to Paris has been nothing if not rigorous and full of sacrifices, and they need to know that they have our unequivocal love and support.”
The President also acknowledged the athletes who have not qualified and encouraged them to set their sights on the next Olympic Games, scheduled for Los Angeles, United States, in 2028.
In announcing the team, Vice President of the BOA and Chef de Mission, Paris 2024, Cameron Burke, congratulated the athletes – two of whom qualified for their events, while the other two gained universality places, also known as wild cards. Mr. Burke explained that the qualifying standards for this Olympic cycle were changed by the World Athletics, resulting globally in fewer athletes meeting the qualifying mark, though the number of participants for each event in the Games has remained unchanged.
The Chef de Mission also revealed that he, along with eight other officials, will accompany the athletes to Paris. These are swim official Dave Farmer, track and field manager/coach June Caddle, Sada Williams’ personal coach Kingsley Rose, and triathlon officials Luke Watson and Osian Murphy. Dr. Carl Ward and Dr. Alicia Brewster make up the medical team, and Attaché Dr. Sylvia Loustric will act as a liaison between the Organising Committee and the BOA.
Officials of the International Game Technology (IGT), the operators and managers of the Barbados Lottery, a long-standing partner of the BOA, were also present for the announcement. The BOA’s President and Vice President used the opportunity to thank IGT for its support, noting that much of their work as a National Olympic Committee would not be possible without the financial support of the lottery and gaming entity.
During his remarks, Alford Ashton, Business Operations Supervisor at IGT, said that The Barbados Lottery is proud to support the BOA and sports in Barbados. One such initiative, he said, is the Going for Gold scratch card launched in 2015, the proceeds of which help to provide financing for the BOA and athletes.
Mr. Ashton also announced the winner of the lottery’s Going for Gold ‘Road to Paris’ Promotion—Katrina Haynes. The promotion, which ran from February 2024, encouraged persons to submit $30 in non-winning Going for Gold scratch tickets for a chance to win a six-day trip for two to Paris to attend the Olympic Games.
The 33rd Summer Games runs from July 26 until August 11, 2024.