USVI Olympic athletes head to London while all are being honored at home
VI Daily News reports -- USVI Olympic exhibit opens on St. Thomas
BY AARON GRAY, Published: July 16, 2012
USVI University Sports Federation president Ron Harrigan looks over the USVI Olympic Committe exhibit in Royal Dane Mall on St. Thomas on Saturday. The exhibit, which depicts the history of the Olympic Games and the territory's involvement in the Games, will opened this week to the public and will remain open during the London Games from July 27 through Aug. 12.
U.S. Virgin Islands Olympic Committee members attend the grand opening of the USVI Olympic Committee Daily News Photos by AARON GRAY
ST. THOMAS - U.S. Virgin Islands Olympic Committee executive board members Hans Lawaetz, Angel Morales and Leonard Bonelli Sr. walked into the USVI Olympic Committee Exhibit in downtown St. Thomas on Saturday, and it was like a walk down memory lane.
The two-room exhibit in Royal Dane Mall depicts the history of the Olympics, the territory's involvement in the Games and features several information panels, pieces of artwork and memorabilia. Admission is free.
"Our initial goal was to promote the Olympic movement in the Virgin Islands," said exhibit organizer Yuri Gaspar, who is also the USVI Winter Sports general secretary. "You would be surprised. A lot of people we talk to don't even know we're sending athletes to London."
The USVI is sending track and field athletes Tabarie Henry, LaVerne Jones-Ferrette, Allison Peter, and Muhammad Halim; laser sailors Mimi Roller and Cy Thompson; and freestyle swimmer Branden Whitehurst to the Games.
The territory has participated in every Summer Olympic Games since 1968, except for the 1980 Games, which were held in Russia and boycotted by the United States.
Gaspar described the exhibit as a lounge area for local residents and tourists walking around downtown. There are two 42-inch flat screen televisions inside air-conditioned rooms that will be playing live coverage of the Olympics, starting with the opening ceremonies on July 27.
"One main thing we will feature is the schedule for when each of our USVI athletes will be competing at the upcoming Games," said Gaspar, whose 17-year-old daughter, Veronica, represents the USVI in alpine skiing. "Of course, if there is a final or something, we will stay open later or earlier so Virgin Islanders can take in all the action at the exhibit."
There are also preliminary plans to move the exhibit to St. Croix and St. John in the coming weeks but those plans are pending office space and security, Gaspar said.