Letter
Setting the Record Straighton Uniforms
Dear Sir:
The Island Games Association (IGA) in ademocratically elected process, in January 2001, voted to weara different color Track Suit to the Island Games in the Isle ofMan in July 2001.
The CIIGC, the subject of an article inthe Friday 1 June issue of a local newspaper, would like to correctthat no one 'did not' institute a move to change the track suitsfrom the current colors (red, white and blue). If the writer hadbothered to first check the facts and history of the IGA, shewould have easily found out that the Team that went to Gotland,Sweden, paraded in blue and white.
What was 'clearly' explained to the writeris that, the IGA, which is a (10) ten member association, feltthat since the Island Games was not connected to the Olympicsor any of its competitions; and these games, while being of Internationalcaliber in competition, lacked the formalities of other Olympicsanctioned events. We would choose our own colors, as we did in1999. Other participating Islands follow this practice also.
I, Richard Parchment, along with the ExecutiveCommittee of the IGA, want to categorically deny saying that theMinistry of Sports was going to withhold funds that were requestedby the IGA.
Far be it for me to say that when I hadspoken to the Ministry and the President of the Cayman IslandsOlympic Committee (CIOC), who had instructed me to write an officialletter, requesting a change to the approved Olympic colors.
This was done as a matter of protocol, forthe reasons explained above. The letter received from the CIOC,was to the effect that due to timing, approval from the sanctioningbody of the Olympics PASO, could not be granted.
The CIOC did not fire off a letter to theIGA in response to this 'controversy', but in response to ourletter sent to them and the president's letter did not mentionany other countries and their colors, as they are quite awarethat 'Barbados' is not associated with the Island Games. Justfor the sake of clarity for the public.
All of this was clearly pointed out to thereporter and our standing with the International Olympic Committeecan never be 'jeopardized' as the Island Games do not come underthe International Olympic Committee's umbrella. By the way, theletter that she said was not sent to the CIOC was in fact thefirst letter between us.
Let me again deny that I at any point inthat phone conversation (that lasted 13 C & W, cell phoneminutes) did not say that the Ministry of Sports was consideringwithholding any funds from our 136 athletes.
Unless there has been a change since May24th, (my last conversation with the P.S.), the Ministry stillplans to honor the request that the IGA has made on behalf ofthe (9) nine different Sports Disciplinary Bodies, that will begoing to IOM.
The resolution to the internal discussionon the tracksuits was settled from May 9th, thirteen day priorto that phone interview. This too was clearly pointed out to thereporter, but due to her close connection to the unknown commentator,she decided to pursue the story, even when it no longer had anyinvestigative demand. What would have been much more welcomed,instead of actually starting a controversy, is if the reporterhad chosen to write a bio about one of those Sportspersons thatwill be participating in this year's Island Games that will eitherbe looking to win a Gold medal or defending the one they now have,from the 1999 Games.
The IGA would like the public to know thatthe Executive Committee (all Caymanians) has since its inception,conducted itself with great decorum and has always, only pursuedwhat was in the best interest of the athletes and not the welfareof its elected officials. We will continue to follow this mandateand we are open to any questions or queries that any supporteror sponsor may have. Thank you.
RichardParchment
Chairman IGA