Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 25 June 2024: The Police Action League (PAL), a Basketball and Softball championship launches registration for boys and girls 10-16 years old. This league is a partnership between the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, TCI Sports Commission, TCI Basketball Federation and the TCI Softball Association.

The Police Action League is more than just a tournament – it is a mentorship programme which elevates athletes. PAL, allows any boy or girl from all islands to play, building friendships, improving teamwork, earning communication skills and developing their prowess in their respective sports. Draft day for Basketball and Softball is  6 July 2024, at the Downtown Ballpark and Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex.

This year, the Boys’ Basketball age categories are 10-13-year-olds and 14-16-year-olds, with games played on Saturdays. This is a change from the three age groups 13U, 15U and 17U last year. The league will last 9 weeks.

For Girls Softball, there is one age category: girls 10-16 years old. Last year, the Avengers came out on top beating out the defending champions Badgers 22-20. This year the league will last 8 weeks.

PAL games are always energetic, and an opportunity for everyone to play while being mentored by their coaches.

How to Register?

Prospective players can register online at: https://tinyurl.com/485n5a9d

Registration process:

1. Submit Waiver of Liability Form
2. Submit a copy of the child’s ID/ passport
3. One-off payment of $20 per child

Spaces will be limited and early registration is advised.

Source Olympics.com

After participating in both the Youth Olympic Games Nanjing 2014 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, 400m runner from Barbados Sada Williams hopes that the help she has received through her Olympic Solidarity scholarship, and the ability to train in Jamaica, will take her to the top at Paris 2024.

Sada Williams will be cheered on by the whole of Barbados at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, but the athlete appears relaxed about shouldering the hopes of an entire nation. She has the chance to become the first woman from the eastern Caribbean island to finish on the podium at the Olympic Games, and only the second athlete, after Obadele Thompson claimed the 100m bronze medal at Sydney 2000.

“There’s no pressure, really,” says Williams. “I know Barbados will be proud of me regardless of the outcome, and I couldn’t be happier to represent them at the Games.”

Aside from earning a medal in Paris, Williams is also hoping to break the 48-second barrier and record a personal best. The 26-year-old’s upward trajectory certainly suggests she is capable of this, with her bronze medals at the 2022 and 2023 World Athletics Championships coming either side of a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Williams believes her recent performances have been helped by a move to Jamaica, where she trains in the same group as multiple Olympic medallist Shericka Jackson.

“I have training partners who are some of the best athletes in the world – training and competing with them is really great. It pushes me and us to be better athletes. In Barbados, I didn’t really have that type of competition or training group.”

Olympic Solidarity support

Williams’s move from Barbados to Jamaica was supported by an Olympic Solidarity scholarship, which provides financial assistance to athletes through monthly grants.

“The scholarship has provided me with the necessary funding to train and compete here in Jamaica. It’s also given me the opportunity to travel to various meets around the world, and to compete in and prepare for major competitions, such as the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games.”

The scholarship has also shown Williams that coming from a small country with fewer resources for sport does not have to be a barrier to success.

“It shows me that there are people out there who believe in me and my potential,” she says. “They want to see me succeed at the highest level while representing my country. So, I’m truly grateful for that opportunity.”

Lessons from the Olympic Games

Paris 2024 won’t be Williams’s first appearance at the Olympic Games. Her time at Tokyo 2020 was “bittersweet”, after she failed to progress from the 400m semi-finals. But Williams also learnt a lot from her very first Olympic experience in 2014. Aged 16, she competed at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, reaching the 400m final.

When Williams was a teenager, there was no female athlete from Barbados whose success she could look to replicate. But now she is a source of inspiration for the next generation from her home country. She is hopeful Barbados can one day rise to the levels of neighbouring Jamaica and become an athletics powerhouse.

“I always hope that I’m inspiring young athletes from Barbados, whether I compete locally or internationally,” she says. “I always want the best for track and field in Barbados. I want other athletes in Barbados to believe that they can excel at the highest levels without needing to leave the country. It would be really nice to have the same facilities and resources as Jamaica or the United States in Barbados.”

Over 1,300 athletes supported through Olympic Solidarity

A total of 1,331 athletes from 159 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), covering 26 sports, received Olympic Solidarity scholarships for Paris 2024. Olympic Solidarity aims to ensure that talented athletes of all backgrounds have an equal chance of reaching and succeeding in the Olympic arena by providing crucial funding to help finance their Olympic dreams. With a particular focus on athletes and NOCs most in need, individual scholarship-holders receive financial support through monthly grants that contribute to their preparation and qualification for the Games, whether in their home country or at a high-level training centre abroad.

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – 10^th June 2024  – Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, a proud part of HAB Group, is thrilled to announce the resounding success of our recent Women’s Golf Day event. This special day was dedicated to the empowerment of women through golf, fostering skills that last a lifetime and celebrating the community and camaraderie that the sport brings.

Event Highlights:

The day began with a delightful specialty mocktail/cocktail hour, courtesy of Vanessa from Wine Cellar. Participants then showcased their putting skills in the Putting Challenge, aiming to be the closest to the wine bottle. The highlight of the day was the Par 3 Scramble on the Front Nine, designed by Ashley, providing a welcoming environment for both novices and seasoned golfers. This inclusive format allowed women, some of whom had never picked up a golf club before, to feel at home and enjoy the game without pressure.

The day concluded with a sumptuous dinner prepared by Patrice and the staff of #19 Bar and Restaurant, where participants and winners were celebrated.

Full Results:

1. Andrea Todd, Ririn Suantari Bell, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Jayne Peterson
2. Christine Dickenson, Tazmara Gowans, Caulette Simmons, Clinteriah Gardiner
3. Bonita Paisley, Jen Blain, Janine Taylor, Wendy Ayer
4. Alaun Hodgkins, Joy Greenwood, Rachel Gregory, Denise Douglas
5. Samantha Pirie, Abygale Harris, Sarah Hicks, Carol Brown
6. Nathalie Roy, Ainara Varela-McGhie, Julie Boulet
7. Juliana Lashley, Christina Pretorius, Nitya Tolani, Emmaline Hall
8. Samantha Slattery, Imelda Foley, Melissa Hartling, Katherine Baryluk
9. Janice Kerr, Marilyn Robinson, Sarah McAteer, Lori Gardet
10. Lorraine Henville, Gabby Dunnage, Jess Carey, Kate Dunnage
11. Lucy Bullard, Leslie Foss, Trem Quinlan, Loreen Haakonson
12. Cindy Young, Tara Quinn, Althea Ewing, Lesley Cooke
13. Madison Murray, Audrey McAnally, Lissa McAnally

Special Thanks and Acknowledgements:

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Wine Cellar for sponsoring the pre-round drinks and prizes. We are inspired by the passion and dedication of our PGA Golf Professional Ashley Gravett, who works tirelessly to advance inclusion in the game.

Empowerment and Engagement:

At Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, we are committed to engaging and empowering women and girls daily. We aim to connect new and existing golfers with our exceptional golf facilities, lessons, league play, family options, and community events. Women’s Golf Day is a testament to the incredible power of sport to unite and inspire.