The largest sporting event on Earth during 2011 will take place in Athens, Greece in June. 7,500 athletes from 185 nations will attend.

For two years, a group of young sailors have been practicing hard, building skills for the chance to try out for the ‘Special Olympics BVI Worlds Team’.  The tough task of choosing the final athletes fell to The BVI Watersports Centre at the very end of 2010.  Over Christmas, the complete team got together and posed for photos. 

Team SOBVI will all compete in the sailing discipline.  Five levels of racing are available and our sailors are entered across three of them.  On the water competition will be held off the shore of Athens at the Schinias Sailing Academy  with a backdrop of an ancient Roman city and the origination of the Olympic Games. 

Akeem David - a newbie to the team and the youngest at 16, but he is working hard, getting ready to do his best!  He is currently a pupil of Eslyn Henley Richez learning Centre and lives at Belle Vue.

Delroy Gordon - one of the older members of the team at 19 he has been sailing for 5 years and sadly missed out on last year’s UK regatta as he was critically ill in hospital.  He is back to fitness now and out-performing most, as he trains and races.  Delroy is a pupil at the BVI Technical and Vocational Institute.

Elsa Meyers – 19 year old University of Aberystwyth student in Wales. Elsa already has international dinghy racing experience, and is the only BVIslander ever to qualify as a RYA instructor.  She will join the team as one of two, ‘Unified Partners’

Glenford Gordon - 20 years old and a full time employee of Horizon Yacht Charters who are long term supporters of SOBVI.  Glen represented the BVI in Rutland, UK last August returning from the event with a 1^st place trophy!

Jaye Noel - a 17 year old student at ESHS.  Jaye will be the second ‘Unified Partner’ on the team.  His close involvement as an RYA Assistant Instructor at the BVIWSC over recent years and a keen racer in his own right, has earned him his place on the Team.

Lenford Pope - 18 years old and a resident of North Sound, Virgin Gorda.  He crewed Glen to their victory last year in England and will add his brilliant ‘front end’ skills to Delroy’s boat this time around.  He is currently attending the BVI Technical and Vocational institute.

Head of Delegation Ms. Lorna Dawson, Head Coach Mrs. Alison Knights Bramble and Assistant Mr. Richard Chee Young will be traveling with the team.

The cost of an event in Europe for nine adults is staggering – but Special Olympics BVI Board Members have already secured sponsors.

Digicel is making a substantial financial contribution that will go directly towards offsetting the costs associated with the Team’s participation in the World Games.

“Digicel is extremely proud to continue its association with Special Olympics BVI,” stated Alan Bates, CEO, Digicel BVI. “Digicel has been the proud sponsor of Special Olympics since its launch in BVI. Connecting with Special Olympics Athletes is a part of Digicel’s fundamental belief in - and commitment to - giving back to the community.”

Bates paid tribute to the passionate, committed individuals from every walk of life who recognize the value and unique gifts of people with intellectual challenges. In wishing the BVI team success in Athens, he said Digicel will continue to offer its support to Special Olympics here in the BVI and across the world.

Maples proud of their long time association with Sailability and SOBVI are providing thousands of dollars worth of essential sailing clothing and equipment for the Team.

BVI Airways have been incredibly generous in offering to fly the whole delegation free of charge, to and from Antigua.

Virgin Atlantic has reduced the price of the delegation’s return flights from Antigua to London by 40%.

We are looking forward to another successful round of the ‘Mile of Quarters’ fundraising campaign; this time attempting to raise enough quarters to put us on the ‘Road to Athens’.

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