Cayman’s swimmers told to ‘march or go home’ by local Olympic Committee
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
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Reader comments:
- The Cayman Olympic Committee just doesn't get it. Like so many adults
involved in youth sports the Olympic Committee has lost its focus and
purpose. It’s about the athletes. It’s about the kids. Time to remove the
Committee members and replace them with people with a vision - Doug
Harbison
- I thought that living in a third world country I would only hear of
these things locally but I see that in Cayman the history repeats itself.
What's in the heads of the CIOC's committee members? They don't care about
their representatives’ health? Do they think the swimmers are machines? I
think they should be fired right now, their brains don't work properly,
don't care about the athletes and are of no use for the position they
occupy. Surely they will reconsider their error; it can't be as I read the
news. Nevertheless I wish the Cayman Olympic team the best of luck and be
able to show their good team work in Greece 2004 - Richard St. John
- The Olympics is not about the Opening or Closing Ceremonies but rather
about the athletes who have worked so hard to achieve their goals. Has
anyone asked the question "What is best for the athletes?" The Olympic motto
is to "be the best that you can be" so is that not what these swimmers are
trying to do? Unfortunately, the media, government officials and many adults
forget to put the Olympians first. What a better way to represent their
country than to perform well and celebrate at the Closing Ceremonies! Good
Luck Cayman Swimmers! - Patty O'Rourke
- "These kids didn't get there on there own..." Hmmm... and would the
Olympic Committee with all assorted hangers-on be there without these kids?
They are the ones that qualified by virtue of talent rather than appointment
- Smart Athlete
- It is an honor to represent your country in the Olympics. Why would you
not like people to see that by not walking in the opening ceremony? A By-law
should be made on this one - William Balderamos
- I think it is horrible that these kids are being forced to march the day
before they swim. If the committee wants recognition trust me they'll get
way more with an actual Gold, Silver or Bronze medal going to one of the
kids than just having their flag waved in a ceremony. Good luck guys! Too
bad we have people in the Government that are more concerned with getting a
flag waved than a potential medal won. Do your best is all I can say! -
Stephanie
- How could the Minister of Sport make such a naïve
comment? If this kind of mentality continues Cayman will never get
anywhere. This is a national shame and disgrace. If I was him I would not
take that flight to Athens. And also he should make a public apology to the
athletes. We need people with compassion and understanding not a Batabano
mass band leadership attitude.
And sir, please don’t go come on the TV again and bragging about how much
the UDP government has done for sports, because if it wasn’t for the parents
and love for sports Cayman would not have the 5 athletes that you are taking
credit for on national TV today.
I have lost count of the number of track and field athletes that have gone
down the drain in the past four year that could have been at the Olympics
now. Where was the UDP? All I keep hearing is Kareem… who is not even
Caymanian! Tell me who is going to be the next Kareem… where are the up and
coming talents? This might sound predigest, but I hope that Cayman first
Olympic medal goes to a true born Caymanian. And please get rid of that lazy
track and field coach. Track and field will not improve unless this
heartless individual is replaced - Anonymous
- As a fellow Caymanian I would love to see my flag flown during the
opening ceremony. But if seeing the flag flown during the opening ceremony
is going to negate the hard work these athletes have done then forget the
opening ceremony. If the Olympic Committee is going to sabotage the hard
work of these athletes by forcing them to go to the opening ceremony what
motivation will future athletes have to push themselves to compete at the
next Olympics, especially swimmers. How would the mandatory order for the
swimmers to attend the opening ceremony to the detriment of their
performance be perceived by the international community. Who would want to
swim or compete for Cayman under such insensitive thoughtless mandates? -
Susan
- Having represented Cayman in the 1976 Olympics (proud to say I was the
first) I can understand very well where all the hoopla is coming from re the
opening ceremony. We were in the sailing so did not start competition for a
few days after the opening. Although I would not change that time spent
standing for anything in the world I can certainly agree that it may have
had a detrimental effect on the swimmers starting the very next morning. Our
government minister(s) need to take a long look at what they are trying to
do here and back off and let the coach(es) decide who attends and who does
not as they are the ones that helped to get them there (parents too) and not
our wonderful UDP government - P. Milburn
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