The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller was among a distinguished group of delegates in Brasilia, Brazil, last week as they witnessed the official lighting of the flame, signalling the countdown to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro this summer.

As the lone representative from the Bahamas, Miller participated in the arrival of the Olympic torch as it was carried through some of the cities on May 4.

The event was witnessed by representatives from 31 countries in the Americas as Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff lit the torch at the presidential palace,

“The torch was very well received and it seemed as if the Brazilian people are very optimistic about the Olympic Games coming to their country in August,” Miller said.

“That night, the torch was lit and each president of the Olympic Committee present got a replica to bring home.”

Miller said it was a fantastic experience for him. “You don’t get a better feeling than that,” he said. “Here I am in foreign country receiving the Olympic flame on behalf of the people of the Bahamas. It’s the highest sports instrument that I can receive for a country.

“This was a special moment for me. To have the Bahamian flag being raised in the back of me as I was presented with the replica of the torch as a special moment for me. I gladly received it on behalf of the Bahamian people. I really enjoyed that.”

The lighting of the torch signifies that Brazil is now in high gear for the hosting of the Games, scheduled for August 5 to 21.

“With the country receiving the torch and lighting it shows that the Games are well on its way to be held there,” Miller stressed. “That’s the signal of authority. It says that you have the permission to host the Games and everything is ready to go.”

Despite reports of a Zika mosquito virus that may hamper the success of the Games, Miller assured the Bahamian public and the athletes who are gearing up to travel to Brazil that there is no need for concern.

“While I was there, I didn’t see one mosquito,” Miller said.

“When I came home, I saw five mosquitoes when they came into my house.

“I was there for five days and I didn’t see any mosquitoes.

“I can assure the public that they have the mosquito problem under control.”

Right now, Miller said the BOC is working diligently with the local sporting bodies to ensure that all of the athletes who are capable of qualifying for Rio attain the standards and are a part of Team Bahamas.

“We have rowing added to our contingent,” he said.

“That will add more value to our team in Rio. Boxing is going to their last qualifier next month and so we are hoping that some of those boxers will qualify. Our office is busy working on getting all of the logistics in place and then to ratify the team, name the team and get them into Rio.

Our chef de mission, Roy Colebrooke, will be there ahead of time to ensure that everything is in place once the team arrives.”

Miller said the BOC is looking forward to selecting a very solid team to represent the Bahamas and the expectations that the athletes will return home with several medals when everything is all said and done.