Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs and Sports Hon Sharie B de Castro (AL) has committed to supporting athletes from the Virgin Islands (VI) following the good showing of the VI’s Olympians at the Olympic Games in Paris. Photo: Facebook/Hon Sharie B de Castro (AL)

According to Hon de Castro, two hundred and five thousand dollars was allocated for assisting Tier 1 and Tier 2 athletes in the 2024 budget. A total of 8 athletes were beneficiaries of this assistance including this year’s 4 Olympians. Photo: Facebook/Hon Sharie B de Castro (AL)

Hon Sharie B de Castro was in Paris, France supporting the athletes who represented the Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook/Hon Sharie B de Castro

Hon Sharie B. de Castro congratulated the athletes and described the Paris Olympic Games as exemplary. Photo: Facebook/Hon Sharie B. de Castro

Hon de Castro, who was in Paris for the Games, spoke to Media Liaison of the British Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (BVIOC) Sofia Fay. 

The VI was represented by sailor Thad A. Lettsome (Men’s Dinghy ILCA7) and Track and Field Athletes Adaejah T. Hodge (Women’s 200m), Rikkoi A.R. Brathwaite (Men’s 100m) and Kyron A. McMaster (Men’s 400m Hurdles). 

“As the Minister for Sports I want to express my sincere commitment in ensuring that athletes continue to receive what they deserve and ultimately seek to continue to find ways to grow and find the support [needed] not just from government but from the private sector and the entire Virgin Islands,” she said. 

According to Hon de Castro, two hundred and five thousand dollars was allocated for assisting Tier 1 and Tier 2 athletes in the 2024 budget. A total of 8 athletes were beneficiaries of this assistance including this year’s 4 Olympians. 

“Each would have received for Tier 2 up to twenty thousand and Tier 1 up to forty-five thousand, and it’s an annual something based on their performance,” she explained, adding that this speaks to the “support of our elite athletes” by the government. 

Sporting associations commended

Meanwhile, the BVIOC, BVI Athletics Association and BVI Sailing Association were commended by the Sports Minister for their involvement and support of the Territories Olympians. 

These associations, she said, played their part from the grassroots level “developing these athletes, putting focus on their talent and giving them the support necessary to get them on the world stage”. 

Hon de Castro also thanked all the team’s sponsors both cash and in-kind, “The athletes are grateful, we are grateful and I look forward as a Territory to see where we can move forward in the future”. 

She again congratulated the athletes and described the Paris Olympic Games as exemplary. 

The Territory’s Olympians, she said, left everything on the track and sea, “They have given their best and we are proud of them… We look forward to continuing to support them, continuing to put the systems and structures in place to support them.”