Deputy PAM Leader – Shawn K. Richards
Basseterre, St.Kitts – Nevis
People’s Action Movement
August 13, 2012
Deputy Political Leader of the People’s Action Movement Hon. Shawn K. Richards today congratulated the St. Kitts – Nevis Olympic Team on their commendable performance at the London 2012 Olympics.
“As the London 2012 Olympics comes to a close on behalf of the People’s Action Movement and the people of St. Kitts – Nevis I must congratulate TEAM SKN on their performance in London under what had to have been extremely trying circumstances. Despite the turmoil that surrounded the team the young men performed admirably with Antoine Adams advancing to the semi-finals in both sprint events and the relay team breaking the National Record. This was certainly achievements that we as a nation could all be proud.
Although our participation in this years Olympic may be memorable for other reasons we cannot and will not allow that to diminish our immense joy and pride of the performance of TEAM SKN at the Olympics. Your ability to perform at such a high level despite the circumstances has been an inspiration to all. TEAM SKN you brought Joy and PRIDE to our nation, “said Richards.
“I must also single out my constituent the young and extremely gifted Jason Rogers who formed an integral part of the relay team and who also performed admirably in his first Olympics. The future of athletics in the federation is bright and with a PAM administration that will form the government shortly the athletics fraternity can be assured of a raised and enhanced commitment to the development of athletics in the federation,” the 2 term parliamentarian continued.
St.Kitts-Nevis participated in the Olympics for the 5th time since its inaugural participation in 1996 which came at the end of a historic $1million commitment by the PAM administration to the development of athletics in particular known as Mission Atlanta. This visionary initiative has borne tremendous fruits with the phenomenal rise and legendary sprint career of Kim Collins and the performances of other athletes including Tiandra Ponteen, Virgil Hodge, Kervin Wallace, Adrian Williams, Antoine Adams, Delwayne Delaney, Valma Bass, Tameka Williams, Meritzer Williams and many other young, past and upcoming athletes.
Richards concluded , “”As a nation, we now look forward to the Rio Olympics 2016 in Brazil and wish all athletes every success.”