The St Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee/Commonwealth Games Association (SKNOC/CGA) is focused on meeting its four (4) key objectives as it prepares its athletes and teams over the current 2021-2024 quadrennial leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. These objectives includes:
- increasing the number of ranked athletes/players/teams per sport qualifying for the various Games under the SKNOC’s mandate leading up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games;
- increasing the number of qualifiers in World and or Continental events leading up to the Games, and;
- increasing its participation in the number of sports at world and continental championships leading up to the Games.
Only recently afforded the freedom to travel more liberally and train under less Covid-restricted protocols, athletes, officials and administrators, alike, would be breathing a sigh of relief. Hence, in an effort to provide the athletes/players with the much-needed, high-level competitions and training, prior to their possible selection, the SKNOC-CGA has fully committed itself to facilitating the preparation and qualification process for the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Caribbean Games slated for the island of Guadeloupe over the period June 29th to July 3rd, 2022 and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games (B2022) that will be held July 28th to August 8th, 2022.
In preparation of the above, the Men’s Beach Volleyball pair of St. Clair Hodge and Shawn Seabrookes was provided financial assistance in the tune of E.C $15,000.00 to travel to Brazil from March 13th to 20th, 2022, to undergo a series of focused and intensive training under the supervision of an international coach/trainer Carlos de Campos Moraes.
While focusing on the logistical side of preparation, a Member of the SKNOC Games Preparation Committee, Mr. Lester Hanley is presently visiting Birmingham, England, on an inquiry mission. While there, he, along with several other representatives from other nations will be checking on the readiness of Birmingham to host the Games. One of the major aims of the visit is to ensure that the athletes will be most comfortable and well taken care of while at the B2022 Games. As a result, Mr. Hanley will be looking into things like accommodation, logistics of accommodation and event facilities and the facilities themselves. In addition, Mr. Hanley’s visit will gather information on the nuances of travel, Covid-19 protocols, and the finer details and rules of the various competitions.
Similarly, Mr. Lonzo Wilkinson, has been appointed as the Chef de Mission for the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Caribbean Games and will be travelling to Guadeloupe over the period March 31st to April 3rd, 2022, to attend the Chef de Mission meeting for those Games.
The SKNOC-CGA is preparing to send a contingent comprising two sporting disciplines namely: Track and Field and Beach Volleyball to the B2022 Games; and the sport of Track and Field/Athletics to the Guadeloupe Caribbean Games.
