Wednesday, July 22, 2009

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BOA chief supports BSF swim program By SPORTS WRITER ~ For the Guardian: The Bahamas Olympic Association (BOA) has announced major financial support for the Bahamas Swimming Federation's (BSF) 'Swim To Empower' Program to be ran this summer on the island of Eleuthera. BOA President Wellington Miller made the check presentation during the opening ceremony of the RBC National Swimming Championships at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Aquatics Centre. "As the Olympic Movement in The Bahamas," said Miller, "we were impressed with the BSF's ground-breaking effort in staging a pilot learn-to-swim program for Bahamians of all ages on the island of Eleuthera. We fully support this program through the assistance of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and with the expectation that it will grow to include other Family Islands within the country." Minister of Youth, Sports & Culture, Desmond Bannister, also indicated the government's support for the summer program. Citing World Health Organization statistics that The Bahamas currently has the fourth highest drowning rate per capita in the world, BOA Assistant Secretary General and BSF 'Swim To Empower' Liaison Kathryn Dillette said that the program "... began with a BOA working group under Don Cornish, our Vice President for community outreach and Family Island development, that is dedicated to promoting the IOC's 'Sport for All' projects in The Bahamas and seeks to establish sports programs and other initiatives that improve the health, environment and safety of all Bahamians." The BSF has collaborated with 'Swim To Empower' founder Brenna Hughes in developing The Bahamas' program. BOA President Miller said: "Our support for 'Bahamas Swim To Empower' will make a big difference by promoting marine awareness and encouraging Bahamians, young and old to become healthy through sport and make use of their natural environment safely by learning to swim." Friday, July 3, 2009