Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
March 18, 2008 (SKNIS)
President of the International Olympic Association (IOC) Dr. Jacques Rogge was assured of the firm position of St. Kitts and Nevis against doping in sports when he visited the Federation on the weekend.
This assurance was given during a meeting at Government Headquarters when Prime Minister Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas presented President Rogge with a copy of the Instrument of Ratification by the St. Kitts and Nevis Government to the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sports. The original document was signed in February by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and forwarded to the relevant body.
The Prime Minister noted that the Government and people were proud to welcome the IOC President on his inaugural visit and explained that the visit should serve as inspiration to athletes contesting the March 21 to 24 CARIFTA Games slated for Bird Rock.
President Rogge thanked the Prime Minister for the hospitality shown by the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture during his visit and commended the Government on its excellent relationship with the St. Kitts and Nevis National Olympic Committee.
“This is key to the success [of sporting programmes]. Nations and countries cannot afford to have divisive processes. Again there, you [St. Kitts and Nevis] is a role model,” he said, adding that the Federation continues to lead in successfully hosting regional and international sporting events.
“The demographic distribution of your population is a very young one and it is important. “¦ We believe that these CARIFTA Games will definitely yield good successes for your country and the Caribbean in general,” the IOC official stressed.
While here the President also toured the Bird Rock athletic stadium and said he was impressed with the facility.
President Rogge was accompanied by Senor Mario Vazquez Raña, the President of the Association of National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Solidarity. Senor Vazquez Raña presented the Prime Minister with copies of several publications which he authored.