James relying on national support

NEW YORK - World 400m champion Kirani James has said that continued national support of athletes is important as they set sights on Olympic medals in 2012.

James, who was in New York on the weekend to receive an award from the Grenada Boys’ Secondary School’s Alumni Association of New York, warns that attention would be drawn on himself and Rondell Bartholomew in the one-lap event but they are prepared for the challenge.

“The journey has just started and I am relying on your continued support. It will take a lot for me and my colleagues to deliver at the Olympic Games in London but we are training hard to bring home the victory,” he said to thunderous applause.

“Next year will be challenging for us since Grenada has set a mark and the world will be coming for revenge, especially at the Olympics but we are determined to work hard and do our best in both the indoor and outdoor championships,” he said.

James, a 2009 graduate from the G.B.S.S., was one of two former alumni honoured at the 20^th Alumni Scholarship Awards and Dinner Dance. He was joined by Dr Anthony Bridgeman, a 1983 graduate and High School Principal in Long Island, New York.

Also in attendance were Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Peter David, Ambassador Gillian Bristol and Consul General Derrick James.

“I want to thank you for your role in promoting tourism in Grenada,” said David, who is also an alumnus of the G.B.S.S. “Many times we think of tourism as persons who are non-Grenadians visiting Grenada and that is far from the truth. The truth is that Grenadians returning home play a significant role in our tourism industry,” he said.

He also thanked Kirani for his gold medal performance at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics last August.

President of the Alumni Association-NY, Michael Bascombe also acknowledged telecommunications company LIME Grenada Ltd in supporting the Gala event.

“We have also noted the interest shown in collaborating with the Association in the future and I would like to acknowledge the support of Telecommunications Company, LIME Grenada Ltd, for ensuring the participation of Kirani James here tonight,” he said.

He said that LIME Grenada has already indicated its willingness to support the association in its Scholarship Awards Programme.

The Alumni Association-NY presented scholarship awards to Brendan Nesfield and Danielle Regis.

Nesfield is majoring in Political Science and Pre-Law studies at Duke University and Regis attends Cornell University, where she is majoring in Environmental Engineering.

The association also presented an award to long-standing member and former president Dr Kenrick Lewis.