Cayman Islands Olympic Team Leaves For London
The team maybe one of the smallest to head to London for the 2012 Olympics but the Cayman athletes are serious contenders. The Fraser brothers, Ronald Forbes, Cydonie Mothersille and Kemar Hyman are all competitors that athletes from some of the biggest countries in the world will be watching when the contest begins next week. The athletes, who make up one of the best teams ever fielded by the Cayman Islands, are all now headed for the UK and Ireland to start training for the big event and preparing to do Cayman proud.
This will be Shaune Fraser’s third Olympic Games and on the eve of the team’s departure for the UK based games he said it is the strongest team that the Cayman Islands have ever sent.
“All the athletes are qualified at the Olympic ‘A’ standard for the Games, and should have good performances in their events,’ he said, adding that he and the other athletes will do their very best to make Cayman proud especially as many family members, friends and Cayman residents will be in London for the games.
Track & Field athletes Ronald Forbes and Kemar Hyman are participating in a pre-games training camp in Surrey, England prior to the Games along with their personal coaches, while Swimmers Shaune and Brett Fraser are in Dublin, Ireland to prepare with their coach and fellow university swimmers leading into the competition.
The Chef de Mission Lori Powell who is in charge of the team and her assistant attaché, Bruce Blake are already at the Games Village before the expected arrival of the athletes and officials on 24th and 25th July.
At the opening ceremony team members will wear outfits that have had considerable local contribution in terms of design and construction. The Cayman Islands pins, which continue to be a huge draw for collectors at sporting events have been designed by Jaime Doak. Inspired by true Caymanian heritage the pins are in the shape of the Cayman turtle. There is a set of five pins, representing the five colours of the Olympic rings – blue, yellow, black, green and red.
The Opening Ceremony will take place on 27th July with the participation of the Cayman athletes in their respective events eagerly anticipated by every one back home on the islands.
