PRESS RELEASE

POLICE ACTION LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024 DRAWS HUGE VICTORIES

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 10th September 2024 – After nine weeks, the Police Action League (PAL) 2024 summer season is now complete with great rewards for the participants competing.

16U MOST POINTS – Leroy Hyman, Skyhawks

When the league partnership between the TCI Sports Commission (TCISC) and the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) was formed, it began as a place for community building, mentorship, and mitigation of juvenile delinquency. This year, mentoring sessions were added where the participants were afforded the opportunity to speak with officers in intimate settings and build connections with the RTCIPF.

The core of PAL remains but through teamwork, the athletes have developed great sportsmanship and dedication to their respective sports, using this as an outlet to establish themselves in organised competition.

Fans can see each athlete’s profile in the TCI Sports Commission’s new athlete database detailing individual statistical performance. Visit https://nieves1319.softr.app/pal-games to view.

This database also holds data on the various athletes’ performance in the Turks and Caicos Islands School Sports Competitions and our National Sport Governing Bodies.

Basketball Roundup

13U Basketball

After being uncontested the entire season, the Skyhawks are the 13U PAL Basketball Champions! They defeated the Commanders 27-24 in a nail-biting matchup.

16U MOST REBOUNDS – Samuel Harvey, Skyhawks

13U MOST POINTS – Bethenly Joseph, Skyhawks

13U MOST REBOUNDS – Yeniel Santana, Guardians

13U MOST STEALS – Carlos David Morel, Avengers

13U MOST DEFENSIVE PLAYER – Midjelyn Dorelus, Seaquest

13U LEAGUE MVP – Romeo Higgs Jr., Guardians

13U CHAMPIONSHIP MVP – Ethan Been, Skyhawks

3RD PLACE – Guardians

2ND PLACE – Commanders

CHAMPION – Skyhawks

16U Basketball

The Avengers have dethroned the undefeated Skyhawks to win the 16U Champion title.

Championship Best Pitcher – Roselyn Sampath (Skyhawks)

16U MOST POINTS – Leroy Hyman, Skyhawks

16U MOST REBOUNDS – Samuel Harvey, Skyhawks

16U MOST STEALS – Deshawn Lightbourne, Commanders

16U MOST DEFENSIVE PLAYER – Poteinsky Dumesle, Commanders

16U LEAGUE MVP – Poteinsky Dumesle, Commanders

16U CHAMPIONSHIP MVP – Victory Gbemedu, Avengers

3RD PLACE – Guardians

2ND PLACE – Skyhawks

CHAMPION – Avengers

Softball Roundup

The Skyhawks were the 16U Softball Champions after narrowly winning 12-11! The game was a nail-biting ordeal with the Skyhawks securing the win in the last few minutes of the final inning.

League Best Pitcher – Maurisha Kolas (Avengers)

League Best Pitcher – Maurisha Kolas (Avengers)

League MVP – Jayanna Ferguson (Avengers)

League Best Hitter – Ruth Louis (Skyhawks)

Championship MVP – Christina Pratt (Skyhawks)

Championship Best Pitcher – Roselyn Sampath (Skyhawks)

~All medalled athletes from islands where Sandals operates, to receive weeklong stays at luxury chain

for their Paris Olympics performances~

Montego Bay, Jamaica – September 8, 2024 – Sandals Resorts International, in a show of celebration following the extraordinary performance of Caribbean athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics, extended complimentary vacations to all medalists from the islands where the resort brand operates.

Jamaican top performers, Rojé Stona, Kishane Thompson, Shanieka Ricketts, Rajindra Campbell, Wayne Pinnock and Rasheed Broadbell will receive week-long stays at any Sandals or Beaches resort in the Caribbean. Saint Lucia’s Olympic champion Julien Alfred, alongside Grenada’s star athletes Lindon Victor and Anderson Peters will also receive complimentary one-week vacations at any Sandals or Beaches resort across the region.

“The Olympic Games are always a special time for us here in the Caribbean. Our athletes are incredibly talented and we are thrilled to witness their wins and record-making performances. On behalf of our entire Sandals family, we excitedly celebrate with our Olympic medallists and we look forward to hosting them for a relaxing vacation at Sandals,” shared Executive Chairman for Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart.

This latest show of support for Caribbean athletes has become a hallmark of Sandals Resorts as they made a similar offering to athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The resort chain has also been a major sponsor of regional sports such as the West Indies Cricket team and multiple motorsport athletes among many others.

Captions:

Rojé Stona: Jamaican track and field athlete Rojé Stona broke the Olympic record to win the gold medal in the men’s discus throw at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Stona is the first Jamaican to win Olympic gold at a throwing event.

Shanieka Ricketts: Jamaican athlete Shanieka Ricketts copped silver in the women’s triple jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Julien Alfred: Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred celebrates her historic performance after copping gold in the women’s 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Alfred also won silver in the women’s 200m competition.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.  – The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is calling for the region to embrace sports development and sports tourism following the outstanding performance of Caribbean athletes at the recent Paris Olympic Games. Historic achievements by athletes like St. Lucia’s Julien Alfred and Dominica’s Thea LaFond, who secured their countries’ first-ever Olympic medals; Marileidy Paulino the first woman from the Dominican Republic to win an Olympic gold; and Jamaica’s Roje Stona setting the Olympic men’s discus record, have shone a global spotlight on the Caribbean’s diverse athletic prowess.

“The success of our athletes is a testament to the incredible talent and potential that exists in the Caribbean,” said Nicola Madden-Greig, President of CHTA. “It’s time for us to dream even bigger and invest more in developing our sports men and women across all disciplines and seek to build a strong sports tourism market, not only to support our athletes but also to reap the economic and cultural benefits this thriving industry can bring to our region.”

The Caribbean’s recent Olympic success builds upon the incredible legacy of sporting giants who have long put the region on the global athletic map. Jamaican sprinters Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce revolutionized track and field with their dominance and charisma. Grenadian Kirani James brought attention to the smaller islands with his 400m prowess, earning Olympic gold, silver, and bronze medals across three Games.

According to CHTA’s data partner, ForwardKeys, sporting events play a significant role in boosting tourism across Caribbean destinations, with varying levels of impact. High-profile, internationally recognized events like the recently held ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup tend to generate substantial increases in traveler volumes, as they attract a broad audience of fans from around the world. For example, ticket sales to Barbados during the week of the fixture announcement (January 4-10, 2024) for travel dates during the competition increased by 90% compared to the same period last year.

“Sports tourism is more than just hosting events; it’s about creating a holistic experience that showcases our culture, natural beauty, and sporting excellence. By investing in sports tourism, we can attract visitors from around the world, including those looking for year-round training destinations and experiences. This will boost our economies and inspire the next generation of Caribbean athletes,” Madden-Greig added.

CHTA advocates for the Caribbean to embrace sports tourism, recognizing its significant cultural and economic potential. This growing sector, now taught at leading universities, generates about 10% of global tourism expenditure according to UN Tourism. The sports tourism market, valued at US$564.7 billion in 2023, is projected to grow to a $1.33 trillion industry by 2032 (Global Market Insights, March 2024). The association stresses the importance of integrating sports tourism into regional development strategies to diversify and enhance the Caribbean tourism product, capitalizing on this rapidly expanding market.

CHTA is committed to working with its partners to seize the momentum generated by the recent Olympic success and establish the Caribbean as a premier sports tourism destination. Many hoteliers throughout the region already participate in, sponsor, and support sporting events, and CHTA encourages all its members to get involved with this growing segment. “Together, we can transform the Caribbean into a global sports tourism powerhouse while also empowering our young people to become the leaders of tomorrow,” Madden-Greig stated.

This year’s Olympics saw Caribbean athletes continuing this tradition of excellence with the total medal count for the region at 25. In addition to athletics, Caribbean countries found success in boxing and wrestling, while many Caribbean and Caribbean-origin athletes won medals for other countries where they hold citizenship.