The St Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) took the opportunity to review the previous year and provide a sneak preview of 2010, at Friday’s Annual Luncheon at Jacques Restaurant at Vigie Cove.

In attendance was Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Department of Youth and Sports, Donovan Williams; Deputy Permanent Secretary, Joanna Reynolds Arthurton; First Vice-President SLOC, Fortuna Belrose; General Secretary (IGS) SLOC, Alfred Emmanuel; along with other executive members and representatives of National Sports Federations. President of the SLOC, Richard Peterkin, was absent due to health reasons.

With the SLOC Prez absent, it was left to Belrose to take up the mantle on this occasion. From the SLOC standpoint she referred to the following as being the highlights of 2009: Election of new Executive Committee for the 2009-2012 Quadrennial; Approval from Government for the Vigie property; Success of the CARIFTA Games in Saint Lucia; Zonal Volleyball competition in Saint Lucia and success of local Volleyball teams; Cancellation of the Caribbean Games; Olympic Congress in Copenhagen attended by the President and SG; Election of President to the IOC as an individual member; Coaching scholarship for a coach to Hungary; Continued funding of a number of programs for National Federations—sending boxers to a training camp in Cuba; Coaches to coaching seminars in the Pan American Region; Election of Toronto to host the 2015 Pan American Games with support from SLOC.; Sending two young athletes to the Youth Olympic Games Friendship Camp in Singapore in December; Qualification of one athlete (Siona Huxley in swimming) for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010 and invitational places for three other athletes in Athletics, Boxing and Sailing.

This year is expected to be another busy one with a number of programs, competitions and items on the agenda. Here is a sneak preview: Sending two young athletes to Pyeongchang, South Korea to get a taste of what a Winter Games is like—possible future involvement for Saint Lucia in a Winter Games. Pyeongchang is bidding for the Winter Games in 2018 and wants the support of the President’s vote at the IOC; Formal transfer of Vigie property and preparation of architects drawings and costing for new Olympic Sports Administration Centre, with multi-purpose gym on the ground floor, SLOC Offices, Olympic Museum and facilities for member federations; CAC Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico in July/August; First edition of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August, four athletes have already selected and possibly more may qualify by the cut-off date; Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India in October 2010; New funding from PASO for the preparation of Athletes for the Pan American Games in Guadalajara in 2011 and the Olympic Games in London in 2012; Increased funding from Olympic Solidarity and PASO for other programs and activities to assist National Federations, athletes and coaches in Saint Lucia—Development of a National Coaching Structure, Coaching scholarships to Hungary, Talent ID and Preparation for the YOG, Olympic Values activities and re-constitution of a National Olympic Academy.

Referring to what he called “a hectic schedule in 2010,” GS Alfred Emmanuel said: “Something we have always resisted in doing, I suspect we will have to do this year.” It seems hard economic times have also hit the SLOC.

Emmanuel pointed that the SLOC would have to call on the government and people of St Lucia to assist with financial arrangements, as it relates to at least one of their outings. He does not feel that the SLOC’s internal financial resources can have them manage the Central America and Caribbean Games and the Olympic Youth Games.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Sports, PS Williams described 2009 as particularly challenging on a number of different fronts and felt progress was made in a number of areas. He mentioned hosting the highly successful CARIFTA Games along with the volleyball championships.

“I think we have again demonstrated quite clearly our ability to host successfully very high class activities,” said Williams. “From our end at the ministry we have continued in providing support to facilitate a lot of the sporting development activities that have taken place.”

He mentioned the preparation and upgrading of several facilities and feels early in the New Year they will be operational. Support to sports associations will again be available but not as easy as before.

“We have come to the conclusion that the days of providing the type of financial support that we provided in the past is over,” said Williams. “We want to encourage a greater level of responsibility on the part of the associations to develop and put forward very strong programs. In that context, I believe the days of simply having blanket allocations to sporting associations will no longer hold.”

In closing, Williams thanked the SLOC and associations and urged them to continue striving to provide sports in St Lucia with the necessary platform to show its true value.