The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee said goodbye to one of its most loyal members, Annie Mae Roffey, two weeks ago after five years of service.
A farewell party at Ortanique in Camana Bay was well attended by many reps from several local sports organisations. Her daughter, Heather, who swam at the Athens Olympics in 2004, was there, too.
Roffey was the Olympic Committee’s chief operating officer and is replaced by Jennifer Powell, a former top swimmer who is the daughter of Lori Powell, the Olympic Committee’s vice president.
Also, there were Olympic Committee president Donald McLean and Secretary General Carson Ebanks, as well as Cydonie Mothersill, who earlier that day had announced Jamaican track star Usain Bolt will be competing at the Cayman Invitational on 8 May.
Shooters Eddie McLean and Kevin Schirn were also among the many guests.
In her time with the Olympic Committee, Roffey helped with the immense organisation of teams heading to the Beijing and London Olympics.
“I was a volunteer sports mum and volunteered with Cayman Islands Amateur Swimming Association, then volunteered to be team manager or chef de mission at various games over the years,” Roffey said. “The Olympic Committee offered me the job and I accepted, as I was ready for a change from nurse management.”
The mother of five, who became a grandmother for the first time last week, said she enjoyed her time with the Olympic Committee, although acknowledged it could be incredibly hectic at times.
All of Roffey’s children swam competitively at some point, but not to the same level as their sister, Heather. Gillian did track and field distance events at CARIFTA level.
“I enjoyed meeting and communicating with sport entities internationally and getting to know our local athletes more personally,” Roffey said. “Being able to take the Olympic Committee to a new level regionally and internationally in many areas was satisfying, too.
“My most memorable moments were at the Central America and Caribbean Games when Heather won gold, Pan Am Games 2007 in Rio when Shaune Fraser won silver and at the Athens Olympics as chef de mission,” she added.
Roffey said she had few lows, but a constant bugbear was dealing with disorganised national sports federations, who she said hindered the smooth running of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee and hampered some of the benefits of the athletes.
After years of rearing children and hard work, Roffey knows exactly what she is going to do now.
“Absolutely nothing,” she said. “And enjoy my first grandchild.”
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