Sports
The Cayman Team celebratestheir departure from Olympics 2000
With the Sydney Games the Cayman IslandsTeam gathered for one final lunch. Due to everyone's busy schedulesit was really the first time that the whole team were together- the althletes, the volunteers, the Olympic Committee and thesupporters.
In the relaxing surroundings of the Mosman Rowing Club, locatedright on Sydney Harbour, close to where Tomeaka had contestedher Olympic Sailing Regatta, the team enjoyed a beautiful seafoodlunch.
It was very relaxed affair with everyone sharing thoughts of thepast two weeks of competition. Surprisingly there was also discussionof the coming Commonwealth Games in Machester, England and thenext Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The general consensus wasthat neither could be as well organised or as fun as Sydney.
Between courses, president of the Cayman Islands, Mr Robert Nunesgave a speech. Bobby, known for his long speeches, promised thathe would keep his speech to a "few words". He thankedthe athletes, Tomeaka, Kareem and Cydonie, for training so hardand putting in such a good effort against some of best athletesin the world. He gave a very special thanks to all the volunteerswho had assisted the Cayman Islands Team throughout these Games.
He said, "Without the assistance of the volunteers theseGames would have been nowhere near successful or as enjoyableas there were." He thanked the coaches for guiding the athletesto this level of competition. He saved his biggest thanks forAttaché, Walter Fletcher, and his wife Jane. He said withoutthe assistance of the "super Attaché the visit ofthe Cayman Islands Olympic Team would not have been as hassle-freeas it has been." Bobby then called on Chef de Mission, DonaldMcLean to say a few words. Donald reiterated Bobby's points andthanked everyone. He went one, "Despite no medals at theseGames they have nonetheless been a very successful Games. If youconsider that of the 11,000 plus athletes here and 270 or so medalsavailable, just to compete at this level against athletes of thisstandard is a privilege in itself. Our three athletes representedCaymans to the best of there ablility. Cydonie made it throughto the second round of the 100 m and 200 m and in the processnearly beat Marion Jones. Tomeaka sailed exceptionally well andmanaged to overtake the girl from Latvia on the last day of competition.Kareem was jumping really well and only missed out by 1 cm."
Donald, with the assistance of Kareem presented gifts to all thosewho had helped the Caymans Team at these Olympics. The gift wasa memento of the Caymans - a plate bearing the Caymans coat ofarms.
With the formalities nearly over, Kareem and Cydonie made a surprisespeech (Tomeaka had to leave early to pack her boat up for shippingback to the Caymans). In a joint speech which appeared to be wellplanned, Kareem and Cydonie bounced phrases of each other, almostlike a rap song, thanking everyone for giving them the opportunityto compete in the Sydney Olympics. It was a very special momentfor all present.
With the formalities over the remainder of the afternoon was spendenjoying the wonderful atmosphere that had engulfed Sydney duringthese Games. It appeared that all those from the Caymans had madea lasting impression on all those they had met in Australia. Manywere now very keen to go and visit the Caymans. Similarly, theCayman Islanders had all been touched by Australia and were keento return some time in the future.