The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AS a member of the Union Cycliste Internationale, Bahamas Cycling Federation president Roy Colebrook said the Bahamas is entitled to some international financial support. So he’s off to appeal for the cycling community affected by Hurricane Dorian.

Colebrook, who doubles as a vice president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, will be attending the congress and the World Cycling Championships on Saturday and Sunday in Yorkshire, England.

“It’s imperative for me at this time to go to the congress because we will be discussing the effects of Hurricane Dorian and how the UCI can help out Abaco and Grand Bahama,” said Colebrook in an interview at the Lynden Pindling International Airport on his departure on Wednesday.

“They want to help us in rebuilding the lives of those cyclists and the cycling communities who have been affected. So it’s very important for me to be at the congress to give our report and to see exactly the way forward for the rebuilding of these two islands.”

During the congress, Colebrook said the UCI will ensure that the Bahamas gets some funding.

Prior to the passing of the devastating storm, Colebrook said they were in the process of receiving a number of top-notch bicycles from the UCI and now they hope they can get additional support.

At the congress, a number of issues pertaining to cycling around the world will be on the agenda. There will also be some amendments that will assist in further pushing the sport forward in the future.

Colebrook is due back home on Monday and he expects to appraise his board members on what transpired and what funding they will receive to assist those affected by Hurricane Dorian.

“It’s very important that we are in attendance because as it relates to cycling in the Caribbean region, we are prominent. We’re always there,” he said. “The thing is, there is no one who can speak for us. We have to speak for ourselves.

“No other country is going to speak for the Bahamas.

“So we have to be there to speak for the Bahamas, to share our views, to share our ideas and this is how we continue to be in the forefront as it relates to cycling in the Caribbean and throughout the world, simply by being in attendance.”

There are at least 204 member federations, including 26 from the Caribbean. So if the Bahamas is going to get a share of the pie, Colebrook said it’s important for the federation to be around the table.