The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FOR the 30th consecutive year, the Royal Bank of Canada has pledged their financial support to the Bahamas Swimming Federation for their National Swimming Championships this weekend, cementing the longest partnership of any sporting body and corporate business in the country.

The federation will stage the championships from Thursday (evening session only at 6pm) to Sunday at the Betty Kelly Kenning National Swim Complex. It’s expected to feature all 12 clubs and more than 400 swimmers, thanks to a contribution of $30,000 from RBC.

Additionally, RBC has donated $5,000 to the Academic All Bahamas Swimming Team Award, which was started five years ago to recognise and support the BSF student athletes in their efforts to achieve excellence in sports and academics, reflecting RBC’s commitment to youth and education.

“Supporting Bahamian youth remains a core area of focus for Royal Bank,” said Larry Wilwson, who is in charge of finances at RBC. “We are pleased to sponsor the National Swim Championships for the 30th consecutive year, as we believe sports programmes are critical to helping young people realise their full potential.

“We consider the BSF to be an outstanding partner and it is important to note that RBC and the BSF have the unilateral distinction of being the longest continuous corporate sponsor and sporting organisation partnership.”

Over the past 30 years, Wilson said they have seen many successes and it has been a pleasure to watch the many bright young swimmers rise to new heights.

“We extend congratulations to the BSF and to all of our swimmers that represented the Bahamas at the 2013 CARIFTA Games held in Jamaica during April and at other international meets,” Wilson said. “Together you have made it an outstanding year for Bahamian swimming.”

Additionally, Wilson congratulated Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace for her performance at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

“Before Arianna, no Bahamian had ever made it to the finals of an Olympic swimming event,” he said. “She has raised the bar for future generations of Bahamian swimmers and we take great satisfaction and pride in her success.”

Unfortunately, Vanderpool-Wallace, who is expected to lead the Bahamian team going to the FINA World Championships, will not be competing in the nationals because of a conflict with her post-graduate classes at Auburn University, according to BSF second vice president Nicholas Rees.

Rees, a former swimmer who went on to represent the Bahamas at the Olympic Games, said they are grateful to RBC for their continued sponsorship.

“Through RBC’s support, Bahamians are being given the opportunity to not only compete at the highest level in swimming locally, but to live the experience of training, preparing and competing, while simultaneously learning a life skill that will never go away,” Rees said.

“What is ironic is that we are surrounded by water and more than 75 per cent of Bahamians cannot swim for survival and I would say more than 85 per cent cannot swim more than 50 metres. This is not good news and given the increasing levels of childhood and adult obesity, swimming is an excellent cardiovascular workout and an equally beneficial life skill that once learnt, will never go away.”

In addition, we are proud to sponsor the Academic All Bahamas Swimming Team Award. This 5th year initiative aims to recognise and support BSF student athletes in their efforts to achieve excellence in sports and academics, reflecting RBC’s commitment to youth and education.

“Through RBC’s generous support this year, a record $35,000 is being donated to our national swimming championship and we are grateful that this support not only represents the longest serving private enterprise/sporting sponsorship or even any type of private enterprise philanthropic grant, but it shows RBC’s consistency in giving back to the community that it has represented since 1908,” Rees said.

“What is even more amazing is that our first Olympic finalist and semi-finalist, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, who unfortunately will not be competing at these nationals as she is completing summer clases at Auburn University, got her start through RBC’s benevolence and sponsorship of young Bahamians.”

The nationals will be televised live on Cable Channel 12. The official opening ceremonies and presentation of the Academic All Bahamas Swimming Team Awards os set for 5:30pm June 21. Tickets to each day’s events can be purchased at the door.