Salutations! And, congratulations, indeed!

In the name of the Association of National Olympic Committees of the Eastern Caribbean States (ANOCES), the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC), and on my personal behalf, permit me to express sincere and heartfelt congratulations to the Grenada Olympic Committee and the Grenada Amateur Athletic Association, on the iconic and defining performance by Kirani James in his very first appearance in the Olympic Games, London 2012. What a phenomenal athlete, who is yet to make twenty years and carries the undisputed titles of World and Olympic Champion in the demanding 400 metres.

It does not escape me that of the eight finalists, five were from the Caribbean and all the medallists were Caribbean athletes.

We have followed Kirani’s exploits since his participation at Carifta games and throughout his career on the US Circuit. I need not remind you, that not only St. Kitts and Nevis, but the entire OECS, shares with you the joy and glory of the moment. Do take the time to personally extend our congratulations to the personable and affectionate champion–Kirani.

Once again, congratulations!

Alphonso E Bridgewater
President/ANOCES
President/SKNOC

As a first point, the SKNOC can confirm categorically that Mr. Collins was not denied the opportunity to be with his wife during the competition. Management was more than prepared to provide the necessary support services to Mr. Collins in this regard and he was allowed ample time off to meet with his wife at the airport, accompany her to her hotel and stay overnight. Permission for leave was granted on Wednesday 1st August at 08.00am with a mutual agreement that he report back for training with the rest of the team at 7:30 am on Thursday 2nd August, and Mr. Collins departed the Village the same day. Mr. Collins however, chose to abuse the privilege granted and officially stayed away from the Olympic Village for a further two days with minimal communication with his managers or coaches.

Records will show that Mr. Collins subsequently entered and left the Olympic Village on Thursday 2nd August, without alerting the team management. This seem to have been a pattern with Mr. Collins as on a previous occasion he slipped out of the Village unofficially, attempting to return during the early hours of the morning via a service entrance. Mr. Collins chose to publicise his 4 hour delay in getting back inside the Olympic Village via Twitter messages, whilst not making it clear to his twitter followers the time and the fact that he did not use the correct entrance for an athlete, therefore Olympic Village security personnel refused him access via that entrance. Mr. Collins chose not to alert Team Management of this incident as his early morning adventures would have been frowned upon. Management later learnt of this from his tweets and from enquiries from LOCOG and the media.

On a second point, the SKNOC can confirm that it did not withdraw or expel Mr. Collins from the 100m Heats on Saturday 4th August. Mr. Collins was asked repeatedly via email and telephone to report to the Village on Friday night by 10.00 pm. However, he refused to comply and did not report back to the Olympic Village until the morning of Saturday 4th August when he attempted to gain entry at 11.41am. Mr. Collins has since publicly stated that his purpose at that time was to collect passes that had been approved for his wife. He was due to run in the seventh heat of round one of the 100m scheduled for 12:30 pm and if he came to run, this was clearly insufficient time for a top athlete to prepare for an Olympic race.

Mr. Collin’s accreditation to enter the village was withdrawn by the management of the team on Friday 3rd August at 10:26 pm with instructions to the IOC to notify the teams Chef de Mission if he attempted to gain access to the village during the night after his no-show earlier; however he had every opportunity to make contact with team coaches and management and to be available to report to the team warm up and Call Rooms on time for his race on the Saturday.

Earlier that week, team officials, management, coaches and athletes met with St. Kitts and Nevis, Prime Minister Dr. the Rt. Hon. Denzil Douglas, yet Mr. Collins chose not to make the journey back to the Village to meet with his Prime Minister and other officials including His Excellency Kevin Isaac, St. Kitts and Nevis High Commissioner in London and First Secretary, Wanda Connor. A few days earlier, Mr. Collins and the SKN Olympic athletes were also absent at a special function held in their honour at the St. Kitts and Nevis High Commission.

Mr. Collins continued absence from the Olympic Village was in breach of his contract of participation with the SKNOC in London 2012, which among other rules asked all athletes to 1) attend all scheduled meetings 2) attend training sessions 3) be available for random drug tests which can be called by the IOC at any time 4) to be available for promotional or team events and 5) confirm their whereabouts to the IAAF. Mr. Collins broke this contract of participation and consequently his coaches were unable to properly manage Mr. Collins’ training or monitor his fitness for the 100m. Being unavailable for the random drug test was a particular concern.

Mr. Dennis Knight, Vice President speaking for the SKNOC, said, “while we all know of Kim Collins’ iconic status in the sports world and particularly the emotional anticipation felt by the whole country, Mr. Collins had blatantly violated rules laid down by the NOC and London 2012. He did not attend any scheduled meetings with team management in his capacity as team captain, showed poor leadership of the other team members and displayed no personal discipline or respect to his coaches who were there to support his training and fitness. I will not pretend that it was not also very hurtful to observe the disregard that Mr. Collins showed for his country, for SKNOC and Olympic organisers in refusing to make himself available for training, for registration and to meet his Prime Minister. Everyone from Government to the SKNOC, SKNAAA and International Olympic Committee has worked tirelessly in the run up to London 2012 to ensure the team’s representation at London 2012 while, internally, management had been extremely accommodating with Mr. Collins. Therefore, given the circumstances, we had no choice but to withdraw Mr. Collins’ accreditation to the Olympic Village.”

“Unfortunately, Mr. Collins erratic behaviour continued on Saturday when he used Social Media tools against his management.”

President: Alphonso Bridgewater

Vice President: Dennis Knight

Secretary General: Glenville Jeffers

Treasurer: Glenn A Quinlan

For the 6th time in the past twenty-four months, the St. Kitts and Nevis 4X100m male relay team has shattered the National Record! The ‘first time Olympian Quartet’ – Lestrod Roland, Jason Rogers, Antoine Adams and Brijesh Lawrence, ran a time of 38.41 seconds shattering the previous record of 38.47 seconds, set back on Sunday 4th September 2011 in Daegu, South Korea.

Our young Olympians managed to keep the athletic federation in the World’s top (16) sixteen 4X100m pool; a position that will no doubt qualify the team for the 2013 World Championship in Athletics to be held in Moscow, Russia. This is based on the standards used at the most previous championship (39.20seconds).

In an email to the Relay Boys, President of the SKNAAA Mr. Glenville Jeffers expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the 4X100m relay team for an outstanding performance and setting the new national record.

The SKNAAA and the SKNOC extend congratulations to our young men for resetting the record books at the most elite gathering in sports!

More information about our team’s appearance at the XXX London Olympic Games can be found on our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/StKNAAA

The morale of the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Team received a boost when the Prime Minister, Dr. the Rt. Hon. Denzil Douglas visited the Olympic Village earlier today.

He was met on arrival by Chef de Mission, Keith Heyliger and President of the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC), Alphonso Bridgewater.

His visit began with a brief courtesy call on the Mayor of the Olympic Village and quickly moved on to the residence halls of the St. Kitts and Nevis team where he was introduced to members of the management team then to the athletes themselves.

In addressing the athletes Prime Minister Douglas commended them for reaching as far as they have through their hard work and reminded them that they will compete not only for the glory of the sport but for the glory of St. Kitts and Nevis. He said, “You are expected to run as you have never run before.” He went on, “St. Kitts and Nevis wishes me to say to you that we are proud of you. You need to know that the country is behind each and every one of you. You are not only running for yourselves but running for your nation.”

Dr. Douglas thanked the SKNOC and the SKNAAA, the International Olympic Committee, the British Government and all those who had made it possible for St. Kitts and Nevis to be represented here.

After leaving the residence halls the team hosted the Prime Minister to lunch in the Main Dining Hall in the Olympic Village. Dr. Douglas took the opportunity to caucus with the team and to discuss their upcoming races with them. The athletes stated that they were very pleased that the Prime Minister took the time to visit them and were very encouraged by the words of wisdom and advice that he offered.

Prime Minister Douglas was accompanied on his visit by His Excellency Kevin Isaac, St. Kitts and Nevis High Commissioner in London and First Secretary, Wanda Connor.

The St. Kitts and Nevis team will see its first action on Saturday morning during the first round of the men’s 100 metres heats which begins at 5:00 am Eastern Caribbean Time.

Our young Olympians managed to keep the athletic federation in the World’s top (16) sixteen 4X100m pool; a position that will no doubt qualify the team for the 2013 World Championship in Athletics to be held in Moscow, Russia. This is based on the standards used at the most previous championship (39.20seconds).

In an email to the Relay Boys, President of the SKNAAA Mr. Glenville Jeffers expressed his heartfelt congratulations to the 4X100m relay team for an outstanding performance and setting the new national record.

The SKNAAA and the SKNOC extend congratulations to our young men for resetting the record books at the most elite gathering in sports!

More information about our team’s appearance at the XXX London Olympic Games can be found on our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/StKNAAA