Basseterre, : The St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee (SKNOC) officially announces the Federation’s participation at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Speaking on the eve of the IAAF World Indoor Championships starting today in Portland, where the Federation will be represented by 39-year-old former world 100 metres champion, Kim Collins and Bronze medalist, 2015 Pan American Games, Antoine Adams, Mr. Alphonso Bridgewater, President of SKNOC, said, “The St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee is very pleased to announce that the Federation will be competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, following qualifying standards achieved by its athletes.”
“We are extremely proud of all the athletes who have made it to the qualifying stage in the selection process. The SKNOC rates very highly their determination and, importantly, the ability of each athlete to serve as an example to their country and young athletes nationwide.”
Mr. Bridgewater continued, “I am asking all Kittitians and Nevisians to therefore put their full support behind the efforts of the athletes. Social Media is a great forum to do this, so please follow us @SKNOC for updates and we will be adding new information regularly.”
Bridgewater also reminded athletes that compliance of the SKNOC Code of Ethics was a prerequisite to participation in the Games, while all athletes have an obligation to follow the guidelines set by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and particularly in meeting the new entry standards set for National Olympic Committees for Rio 2016. Such guidelines state that,
Each nation can only put forward up to three athletes per event
Achieving the entry standard does not guarantee participation in the Games; the final decision will be taken by the St. Kitts and Nevis Olympic Committee
Each Track Event has new qualifying times in both men and women’s events
Athletes have until July 2016 to record entry standards across all events and will qualify either by equalling or bettering their entry standard
He said, “I urge all competing sports men and women to please visit the Rio2016 website, for these and all other guidelines.”