The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

Tribune Staff Reporter

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

RESPONDING to reports that some Bahamian athletes did not walk in the opening ceremony of the Olympics because there were not enough official uniforms, the Bahamas Olympic Committee said not only did uniform sizing come in late, but the Bahamas group contained more auxiliary personnel than were allowed to take part.

In an e-mail sent to The Tribune, the BOC claimed “rumours” about the alleged lack of uniforms were spread by “a very senior member” of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA).

It said: “Facts are – the BOC requested all of the athletes to submit their tailored sizes to our designated Taylor (sic) for fitting. Some of our athletes did comply and other did so late or with vague sizes.

“The BOC speared (sic) no expenses as the ceremonial uniforms cost us an additional $13,000. We tried as best we could to accommodate the fitting of the entire team after the Olympic Trials and the submission of recommendations by the BAAA’s.”

The BOC said despite “numerous requests” to have the BAAA make recommendations to the team “based on the athletes that had already made the Olympic standards and name the coaches and other key personnel” the BOC only got names “perhaps three weeks prior to the start of the games”.

This placed an “unnecessary burden” on the BOC’s resources and on their travel agents, who “worked long hours” to get affordable fares, the email said.

“We, the BOC, did as best we could to accommodate the entire team – we did suffer some shortcomings and sought to rectify the situation, although no fault of the BOC.

“Further, you should be made aware that not all members excluding the athletes was allowed to march - thus for those auxiliary personnel who could not march as we were not given marching passes for the entire team,” it said.

“They gladly ensured every athlete who wanted to march was able to march by giving of their ceremonial uniforms to the athletes – I am advised the impact effected (sic) two athletes. Please take into account that they in all probability may not have been able to march as we exceeded the quota of tickets given for auxiliary personnel to march.”

He said it was unfortunate that a “lone BAAA executive sought to cast a cloud over our many magnificent experiences” that have occurred since Team Bahamas landed in London.