The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Olympic Committee has announced a 12-member team that will represent the Bahamas in four disciplines at the second Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, August 16-28.

Iram Lewis, a BOC vice president, will travel as the chef de mission. Two other vice presidents, Cora Hepburn and Clarence Rolle, will assist Lewis. Dr Rickey Davis will travel as the team doctor. For the first time, Megan Shepherd from Grand Bahama will travel as the youth ambassador.

The lone competitor entered in sailing is Paul De Souza. He will be accompanied by his mother, Kathryn De Souza.

Swimming will be represented by three competitors - Joanna Evans, Justin Tynes and Laura Morley. Andy Loveitt will travel as the coach. The athletics team is made up of Javon Martin, Henry DeLauze, Janae Ambrose, Shaquania Dorsett, DreShannae Rolle, Tavonte Mott, Serena Brown and Julian Bowe.

And in tennis, the two competitors are Rasheed Carey and Justin Roberts.

“The focus, at this point for the youth, is not about competition. I think the focus is more about the culture, more about education, more about preparing for the senior games or any other international games,” said BOC secretary general Rommel Knowles.

“So, in terms of its popularity in terms of its youth, it is growing by leaps and bounds because of the advent of the social media and the kids taking advantage of that. The competition is the last thing we want the athletes to be thinking about, winning a medal or losing a medal. The spirit of the games is about the Olympic movement and not so much about the competition.”

Just recently, the BOC introduced a youth version of the Olympic Games in Grand Bahama and they got an overwhelming support and Knowles said they intend to bring the spirit of the Olympic Games and the movement to New Providence next year when they introduce the same type of youth Olympic games here.

“When (Jamaican) Usain (Bolt) wins a gold medal, everybody thinks about the medal, but there’s more to the Olympic movement that we want to bring to the forefront,” Knowles said.

Knowles said the trip is not so much about the athletes winning any medals, but rather for them to be engrossed in the Olympic movement.