Clean sports takes center stage

Wed, Feb 25th 2015, 09:38 AM

A new, national art and essay competition demonstrated students' deep appreciation and understanding of the concept of clean sports. Approximately 59 entries from 13 schools vied for a top spot in the Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission (BADC) inaugural contest with top spots won by Queen's College student Ari Brathwaite (essay senior); St. Anne's School student Bernique Pople (essay junior) and St. Francis de Sales' Brad Cooper (essay elementary).

With one photo entry entered into the competition, Lyford Cay International School's Caterina Leam was assured of the win in the elementary division. In the art division of the competition, the top awards were carted off by St. George's High School student Thaddia Simms (art senior); St. John's College's Amy Burrows (art junior) and Queens College's Caldon Whyms (art elementary).

The award ceremony was held at the National Art Gallery Friday evening. In the essay competition, New Providence dominated with 19 entries. Another eight essays came from Grand Bahama and one from Abaco. Grand Bahama monopolized the art contest with 27 entries, completely overshadowing the three entries that came from New Providence.

There was only one entry in the photography category. First, second and third place winners were declared at the elementary (five to 10-years old), junior (11 to 13) and senior (14 to 18) levels.

"We wanted to stimulate them to exercise their creative process in interpreting the concept of clean sports," said Roscow Davies, the BADC's member responsible for education and training.

Established in 2009, by an act of Parliament, the BADC works to prevent cheating and doping in all sports in The Bahamas.

"In a world where many athletes take performance enhancing substances to gain an unfair advantage over others... we want young people to understand this whole sense of competing fairly," said Davies. He called the collective response from the schools in New Providence and Grand Bahama "encouraging."

For BADC Chairman, Dr. Jerome Lightbourne, education equals prevention. Education, he said, should start at a very young age.

"We live in a world where people try to do whatever they can to come first," said Dr. Lightbourne. "We as parents and coaches put a sense of added performance in our children and athletes by enticing them to take extra vitamins and supplements. That's actually the beginning because it instills in these children and these athletes' minds at a very young age that they need to take something else to win."

Fortunately, athletes from The Bahamas have never tested positive on an international level, although there have been some positive doping results locally. Speaking to the caliber of work submitted, BADC member and Olympian, Pauline Davis-Thompson said "the future looks very bright."

"We have some very talented young people in this country," she said. "Continue to hone your craft."

The BADC intends to host a second awards ceremony in Grand Bahama to honor the winners hailing from the nation's second city.

Winners' circle
Essay Elementary

1st place Brad Cooper Jr. (St. Francis de Sales)
2nd place Michael Massey (Lyford Cay International School)
3rd place Sierra Blair (Kingsway Academy)

Essay Junior

1st place Bernique Pople (St. Anne's School)
2nd place Angel Knowles (Temple Christian High School)
3rd place Kristaleah Hall (Sunland Baptist Academy)

Essay Senior

1st place Ari Brathwaite (Queen's College)
2nd place Lauryn Daxon (Queen's College)
3rd place Latario Smith (Temple Christian High School)

Photo Elementary

1st place Caterina Leam
(Lyford Cay International School)

Art Elementary

1st place Caldon Whyms (Queen's College),
2nd place Leander Newton (Sunland Baptist Academy)

Art Junior
1st place Amy Burrows (St. John's College)
2nd place Jaynell Rahming (St. John's College)
3rd Alyssa Turnquest (Mary Star Catholic Academy)

Art Senior
1st place Thaddia Simms (St. George's High School)
2nd place Aaron Minnis (St. George's High School)
3rd place Joshua Burrows (St. George's High School)
Honorable Mention: Franklyn Deveaux (St. George's High School)

 

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads