Two athletes from TEAM TCI, Sanadia Forbes and Colby Jennings have been selected to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands at the Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games to be held in the City of Manchester in the UK this week from 3rd to 6th September.
The Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games is a multi-sport event for the UK’s and overseas territories elite young athletes of school age and Sanadia Forbes and Colby Jennings will be among around 1600 of the nation’s finest young sports stars who will compete in 12 sports in front of thousands of spectators.
The 12 current and future Olympic and Paralympic sports include Athletics, Cycling, Fencing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Judo, Rugby Sevens, Swimming, Table Tennis, Volleyball and Wheelchair Basketball.
There will be disability events in at least six sports: Athletics, Cycling, Fencing, Swimming, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Basketball.
Nine venues will host the competition events including a number of venues at Sport-city which was originally developed for the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.
The Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games not only supports elite young athletes – but also demonstrates the range of other opportunities that exist in sports like officiating, volunteering and coaching. Approximately 700 coaches, support staff and volunteers will give round-the-clock support and advice, collectively committing more than 22,000 hours of their time.
This is the first time the games are being open to the British territory countries and it’s an opening for partnering with the UK in the development of sports in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Sainsbury’s 2015 School Games seeks to create an inspirational and motivational setting which not only provides our elite young sports people with the opportunity to thrive and perform at the highest levels, but encourages more young people to take part and succeed in sport.
The competition aims to re-enforce the experience of Olympic and Paralympic Games complete with Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
The athletes Sanadia Forbes and Colby Jennings, along with the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Library Services, Hon. Akierra Missick, Acting Director of Sports, Judith Robinson-Ewing, Coach Randy Ford, and parent of one of the athletes, Gertrude Forbes will leave the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday, September 1st. The team is expected to return on September 7.
Meanwhile, four athletes, Akia Guerrier, Helcy-Ann Selver, Khambrel Caley and Ken Reyes were selected to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands at the Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games, which will be held from 5th to 11th September. They will also leave Providenciales on American Airlines’ first flight, Tuesday September 1st for the events.
Accompanying this group of the athletes will be Ms. Brenda Lightbourne, along with Team Coach and Team Leader, Alvirto Smith.
As for individual events, the athletes will compete as follows:
Akia Guerrier, 200m & 400m
Khambrel Caley 100m & 200m
Helcy-Ann Selver 100m & 200m
Ken Reyes 400m and 800m
It is anticipated that up to 1000 young Commonwealth athletes aged 14- 18 will represent their country and compete for 107 Gold Medals in 9 sports over 5 days at these games, which will take place in the nation’s capital, Apia, across two sporting complexes that will play host to Swimming, Archery, Athletics, Boxing, Lawn Bowls, Rugby Sevens, Squash, Tennis and weightlifting.
As they leave, we pray God’s guidance and protection over their lives, and wish them all the best in their efforts to represent the TCI to the best of their ability.
The team is expected to return September 14th.
