The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LONDON, England — Governor General Sir Arthur Foulkes said he was delighted to be back at Bahamas House, albeit in a different capacity as he welcomed Team Bahamas to the 2012 Olympic Games.

Foulkes, who will be a special guest of the Queen during tonight’s opening ceremonies at the Olympic Stadium, said it was his honour to be a part of the ceremony because the athletes are helping to continue a rich legacy of sports participation for the Bahamas at the games, dating back to when Sir Durward ‘Sea Wolf’ Knowles won the first bronze and gold medal respectively in sailing and ever since the country had been adding to that total.

“I hope that one day, someone will write the story of Bahamian sports, especially the Olympic movement in the Bahamas,” he said.

Foulkes said that for such a small country surrounded by so much water, the Bahamas has done extremely well on the international scene and he’s proud of its achievement.

The ceremony, which ended with the athletes being feted at a full dinner, was hosted by the Bahamas British High Commissioner to London, Paul Farquharson and his wife. Also in attendance was Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr Daniel Johnson and Olympic 4 x 400 metre relay team member Tim Munnings, the Director of Sports. Special guests were Canadian fashion designer Peter Nygard and Keith Blake, the Mayor of Crawley, who helped Team Bahamas when they participated in a training camp there last week.

Foulkes said the ceremony only goes to show the Bahamas’ commitment to the athletes’ continued success of the Olympic movement. He lauded the athletes for their tremendous achievement and noted that he was looking forward to their performances in London over the next two weeks.

Blake said he was delighted to open up their facilities to the Bahamas and the other countries that took advantage of the training sessions.

“I want to thank the Bahamas for coming and may you be successful at the Olympic Games,” he said.

Johnson, in his address, singled out Brandon Bethel, a Bahamian practising law in London, for assisting the Bahamas government in securing Bahamas House, which will serve as a showpiece for persons coming from the Bahamas to watch the games.

He said the house would be open for visitors to meet and hang out with Team Bahamas during the next two weeks as the games are staged.

“It’s a great pleasure to welcome you guys to London,” said Johnson, who said that he was learning politics doesn’t have any place in the Olympic movement and vowed there would be no interference on how the games are conducted.

However, Mr Johnson said the Bahamas government would, as usual, be financial rewarding those athletes who achieve any special performances, including making a final or winning a medal.

Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller said the reason they decided to open Bahamas House is because they wanted to make as many Bahamians as proud and as comfortable as they can during their stay in London.

The house will officially be opened to the public today.

In giving the vote of thanks, veteran sprinter Chandra Sturrup said they were appreciative of all the support they got from everybody to make it possible for them to enjoy their stay in London.

She especially thanked Mayor Blake for the contribution he made to their training camp in Crawley and indicated that they hoped to be back in the future.

Quarter-miler Christine Amertil said having attended three other Olympic Games, this was a little different because the officials had really gone out of their way to make them feel right at home.

But if she had to rate what one of the games was her best so far, Amertil said it would definitely have to be Athens, Greece because it was where she had her best performances, finishing seventh in an historic final that included Pauline Davis-Thompson.

A number of Bahamians, who had some potential to compete in the past, joined others who are residing in London, showing their support of Team Bahamas.

One of them was former sprinter Michael Reckley, the St John’s star, whom many felt quit too soon and eventually didn’t perform at the level that he was capable of doing.

“I think it is a wonderful experience,” said Reckley, who only recently returned home after spending some six years in London. “I wished I was here as an athlete, but I gave up my dream before I got to this level. But it’s a wonderful experience, especially seeing people like Leevan Sands, whom I competed with. London is my second home, so it’s good to see many Bahamians here and that is why I decided to come back to support them.”

And Brandon Bethel, a former versatile athlete from St Augustine’s College, said he’s enjoying London life and spending time with some of his long-time old friends and making new acquaintances as they support Team Bahamas.

“I just hope that we can really go on and be a force to reckon with at these games,” he said. “Bahamas House has a tradition of welcoming Bahamians when they come to London. So it’s good that the athletes got a chance to see where they can come as well whenever they are away from home.”