Olympic swimmers Danielle Titus and Alex Sobers, as well as officials of the Barbados Olympic Association Inc. (BOA), paid a courtesy call on Minister of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment, Dwight Sutherland, during which he was presented with a token from the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
Representing the BOA at the meeting held in the Ministry’s conference room at its Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall office on Tuesday, were Vice President/Tokyo Chef de Mission, Cameron Burke; Secretary General, Erskine Simmons; Senior Administrative Officer/Tokyo 2020 Covid Liaison Officer; Gail Craig Archer and Senior Operations Officer, Ryan Brathwaite. President of Barbados Aquatic Sports Association (BASA), Cheryl Lady Forde was also in attendance.
In his remarks, Minister Sutherland reiterated the commitment of the Government of Barbados to helping local athletes reach their highest potential. While noting he was honoured to be in the company of Olympians, he extended heartiest congratulations on the Government’s behalf, on their commendable performances at the Summer Games.
“Our focus has always been to create world class athletes, to create world class sportsmen and women,” he said.
The Sports and Youth Minister also offered some words of advice to the Olympic swimmers. He reminded them to pay attention to their mental health and to remain focused and disciplined as they turn their attention towards Paris 2024.
Vice President Cameron Burke said the BOA was grateful to the Minister and his Ministry for their unwavering support and looked forward to continuing to develop that relationship in the future. The BOA Vice President, who is also the Chef de Mission for the upcoming Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, extended a special invitation to the Minister to attend the Games scheduled for July 28 to August 8, 2022.
Titus and Sobers, who had the honour to carry Barbados’s national flag into the Olympic Stadium at the start of the Games, also spoke and took the opportunity to express gratitude to the Minister, the BOA and the BASA for their assistance over the years and especially during the just concluded games.