NOC recognises Sports Administrators

The National Olympic Committee (NOC) has recognized persons who have contributed to the development of sports here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines over the years.{{more}}

This was done at a special ceremony at Frenches House, on Saturday, December 18.

Sharing the spotlight were Gloria Ballantyne, Ian Sardine, and Sabrina Mitchell-Sutton.

Ballantyne, a long standing netball administrator, also served other sporting disciplines in various executive positions, as well as the NOC. In her heyday, she was a national netballer.

Ballantyne had the honour of the Member of the British Empire conferred on her in the 1998 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. She is acclaimed as this country’s “First Lady of Sports”.

Her award, a plaque, came through the Caribbean Associations of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), and was inscribed “Most Distinguished Contributor to Caribbean Sport 2009”.

The never-tiring Ian Sardine, a Youth Football Coach and administrator, received the Olympic Award for 2009, for his input in Youth and Sport.

A teacher for the past 34 years, Sardine is noted for his untiring efforts in football at the primary school level, and was the chief organizer of the Primary Schools’ Football Competition from 1981 to 1984.

The founder of the System Three Youth Football Academy which started in 2001, Sardine’s efforts have seen the emergence of similar operations across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Through his academy, two 11-year-olds, in 2005, were sent to Italy, for three weeks, to receive assistance with their football development, through attendance of camps there.

A former President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation ( SVGFF), Sardine now holds the position of First Vice President of the SVGFF, and has the responsibility for technical matters.

Sardine was not on hand to receive his award, as he was otherwise engaged with the SVGFF’s Grassroots Football Festival at the Arnos Vale Two Playing Field.

The other awardee was Mitchell-Sutton, who copped the Olympic Award for 2010, for inspiring young people.

President of the Bequia Basketball Association since 1999, Mitchell- Sutton has overseen the rise of the annual Bequia Basketball Tournament, which is ranked as one of the best organized competitions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Mitchell- Sutton has also spread her administrative skills to the wider Caribbean, as she is the Secretary General of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation, a post she has held from 2004 to the present.

Mitchell- Sutton has the responsibility for the technical training of basketball officials in the region, and is a Central Board Member of FIBA America, which directs and implements policies and the budget of FIBA in the Americas.

Last Saturday’s ceremony was a joint venture between the NOC and Team Athletics SVG. (RT)