Olympians Barbados, the local chapter of the World Olympians Association, joined their colleagues across the world in celebrating the five-year anniversary of the OLY designation in November with a courtesy call on the President of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) Sandra Osbourne, who welcomed them and joined them on a tour of the Olympic Museum.
The delegation was led by President Freida Nicholls OLY (Munich Olympics 1972 and Montreal 1976). Accompanying her was Treasurer Allan Ince OLY who competed at Seoul 1988, Executive Member Pearson Trotman OLY (Montreal 1976), and Lorna Forde OLY – a member of the first female squad that competed at Munich 1972, and then she again competed at Montreal 1976.
OLY is the International designation, just like PhD, MD, and other post nominals, which is conferred by the World Olympians Association (WOA) on qualified Olympians in recognition of their years of hard work, dedication, knowledge of their sport, and promotion of Olympic values.
Lorna Forde, a Respiratory Therapist in New York and a product of the legendary Modern High School led by the first President of the BOA Louis Lynch, was on vacation in Barbados. She was extremely happy to have the opportunity to reconnect to the BOA and her Olympian colleagues. She spoke of her excitement on seeing Sada Williams break the 400 meter record which she held for 43 years, and win the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
Allan Ince who competed in the 400m Hurdles and 4×400 relay at the Seoul Games 1988, is an Account Manager at Sagicor Life Inc.
He shared how he was inspired an a young boy at Foundation School to represent Barbados at the Olympics when he saw the outstanding performance of the men’s 4×400 relay team that made the final at Los Angles Games in 1984.
Pearson Trotman, an alumnus from the Grantley Adams Memorial School and retired Sergeant of the Royal Barbados Police Force, spoke of the successes of the Police Athletics Team in the 70s. He explained how that catapulted him to qualify for the 4×100 relay team at Montreal 1976 with teammates Hamil Grimes, Rawle Clarke OLY, and the late Pearson Jordan OLY.
BOA President Osbourne congratulated the Olympians on their recognition by the World Olympians Association, and assured them that they continue to be a motivation for future aspiring athletes from Barbados on the world stage. (PR)
