Olympic Sailor Donald McLean was elected President of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee recently.
He is joined on the executive committee by another Olympic sailor, Carson Ebanks (secretary general), long time volunteer sports administrator and first woman to serve on the CIOC Executive, Lori Powell (vice president) and former Director of Sports Designate, Bernie Bush (treasurer).
In addition a further five members join the CIOC Executive Committee for monthly meetings and these representatives are chosen from amongst the Olympic Sports members: Bruce Blake – Football, Dale Ramoon – Basketball, Rex Whittaker – Softball, Laurice Frazier – Swimming and Rayle Roberts – Athletics.
The full Olympic Committee meets quarterly and this organisation includes representatives from all Olympic sports represented in the Cayman Islands who are voting members (17 sports) plus any other interested sporting organisation (non voting members), states a press release.
The new executive has promised transparency and communication with all the member associations and the general public (through the media), holding regular meetings and providing updated information from time to time. In addition, they have published a statement on the mission and role of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee which includes the following highlights:
To promote the fundamental principles and values of Olympism in the Cayman Islands, in particular in the fields of sport and education, by promoting Olympic educational programmes in all levels of schools and to encourage other programmes, including cultural, related to the Olympic Committee.
To ensure the observance of the Olympic Charter in the Cayman Islands
To encourage the development of high performance sport as well as sport for all
To help in the training of sports administrators by organising courses
To take action against any form of discrimination and violence in sport
To adopt and implement the World Anti-Doping Code
These mission statements reflect the role of the International Olympic Committee of which the CIOC is a member and CIOC is obliged to participate in the Olympics by sending athletes to the Games which are held every four years. In addition, CIOC has the exclusive authority for the representation of the Cayman Islands in the Central American & Caribbean Games, Pan American Games, any world multi-sport competitions patronized by the IOC, and the Commonwealth Games.
Current events for CIOC include a visit from Manuel Dominguez Portillo from Cuba who is in Cayman at the request of the Pan American Sporting Organisation to review facilities and training in a number of individual sports with a view to assisting with facilitation and funding for elite athletes looking to compete in the CAC Games (Colombia 2006), Pan Am Games (Brazil 2007) and Olympic Games (Beijing 2008). Sr Portillo will be meeting with representatives from the various chosen sports (all individual rather than team sports) including athletics, swimming, shooting, taekwondo, boxing, sailing and triathlon.
Related Videos
