The St. Lucia Aquatics Federation hosts the 30th OECS Swimming Championships this weekend – from November 11th – 13th 2022, with CIBC FirstCaribbean on board as Championship Sponsor. This partnership comes with a commitment of $7,000 –the total cash prize package to the overall winner of the Championship.
In addition to the host country Saint Lucia, OECS Member States fielding competitors are Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, as well as St. Marteen. Participating countries are allowed teams of up to 34 swimmers. This year some 306 swimmers, along with officials and supporters will travel into Saint Lucia, bringing the full overseas presence here to approximately 500 or more.
In presenting the cheque to representatives of the St. Lucia Aquatic Federation, CIBC Country Manager Nigel Ollivierre said “apart from the fact that CIBC FirstCaribbean is keen on youth development in all spheres of endeavour, we are a Caribbean Bank with operations across the OECS. For us, this is a family affair. Added to that, let me say that we are a sporting people with our sights set on premier international sporting platforms. This is therefore an investment in this thrust to competitiveness as a region,” Mr. Ollivierre concluded.
The OECS Championships was first organised by Joseph “Reds” Pereira and David Peterkin to establish a regional level championship to provide opportunities for our swimmers from OECS Member States to perform on the regional platform. Following the first meet, Saint Lucia organised for a Peace Corps Volunteer to visit Grenada and Dominica to start their swimming programmes and assist them in becoming members of FINA – the governing body of water sports.
The OECS Aquatic Championship is being hosted at the Rodney Heights Aquatics Centre in Rodney Bay, Gros Islet after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.