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Friday, 02 November 2012 02:30
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By caribarena news
Antigua St. john's - Member of Parliament for the St Peters Constituency Asot A Michael has thrown his full support behind an initiative for promoting swimming in Antigua & Barbuda.
Antigua & Barbuda is poised to host the 22nd Annual OECS Swimming Championship on November 9 – 11 2012; and the organizing body, Antigua & Barbuda Swimming Federation (ABSF), has for weeks been soliciting governmental and corporate funding to foot the EC$65,000 bill. This is the first time in 19 years that the meet will be hosted in the twin-island state.
“As the Parliamentary Representative for the St Peter’s Constituency, and an avid lover of sports and youth development and empowerment, I am pleased to be considered a Gold Contributor to this national effort, lending my support to the young athletes from all across Antigua & Barbuda,” Michael said on Wednesday.
He noted that it is the meet will be possible due to not only to his backing, but also that of a number of “generous and conscientious citizens” who have all opted to provide resources to the organizers.
“Citizenship participation makes possible the championship competition. I am delighted to give. It pleases me to assist in elevating swimming throughout Antigua & Barbuda, and I applaud the organizers for helping to spread its benefits to communities that I represent in the Parliament.
“Hosting this event is a major achievement in the development of Swimming in Antigua & Barbuda,” Michael said.
The MP pointed out that community development in any part of the Caribbean, and indeed the world, can take hold only if sporting activities are recognized as essential to growth and maturation of the youth.
Too few Antiguans and Barbudans, he pointed out, show an interest in swimming.
“The ocean is not only a place for providing food and as a means of travel; it is perfect for developing athletic skills,” the MP said, adding that he looks forward for the day when swimming becomes as community-based as many other sports in the twin-island state.
“If our country is to progress, every effort and sacrifice must be made to engage youth in healthy competition and athleticism of every sort,” he said, as he extended a desire of success to the national team members of this year’s OECS Swimming Championships.
Participating OECS territories in this year’s meet include St Lucia, Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines and the British Virgin Islands. Some 34 swimmers will represent Antigua & Barbuda at home.
Laurie John of the ABSF echoed the MP’s notion that hosting the event in Antigua & Barbuda will indeed be a major achievement in the development of swimming.
In 2007 the country secured two medals at the championships in Grenada, then returned in 2011 to break the OECS record in securing 113 medals after an exponential growth in talent and performance from the 2007 experience.
On Monday, Minister of Sports Senator Winston Williams announced an EC$2,669.07 to the Swimming Federation as part of an overall EC$60,000 across-the-board contribution to the overall development of sports in Antigua & Barbuda.
9 Comments In This Article
RE: MP Injects Gold For Regional Swim Meet in Antigua
I NOT VOTING!
RE: MP Injects Gold For Regional Swim Meet in Antigua
NoWayOut
Beware of those who come bearing gifts
Parrot
@ stella
microwave chef
RE: MP Injects Gold For Regional Swim Meet in Antigua
World Bank
?
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/mar/11/antigua-isle-of-man
Stela
the bigger picture?
This however should not stop carib areana to investigate who the money men and kingmakers are in the "new" ALP. or should it? No following the money is a bad idea because it may reveal an inconvenient truth. who really controls Antigua & Barbuda after 31 years.
microwave chef
o no, it speaks again
microwave chef
Wa Asot woke up?
skyewill
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