The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Beach Olympics was a huge success as a number of major companies participated in various beach games and fun activities at Taino Beach on Saturday, April 18.

Proceeds raised were in aid of the Special Olympics. The BJC Beach Olympics Committee presented Loretta Parris, coordinator of Special Olympics Grand Bahama, with a cheque for $2,000.

Mrs Parris was very grateful and said the funds will assist in transporting the athletes, who not only reside in Freeport, but also in East and West Grand Bahama.

Ginger Moxey, BJC organiser, thanked corporate Grand Bahama for its participation in such an “historical event.”

“Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Beach Olympics was introduced not only to get corporate Grand Bahama involved in this historical event, but to give back to such an important cause as Special Olympics,” she said.

Seven teams competed and the official results were released on Monday.

The Grand Bahama Health Services Shock Wavers was the overall winners of the first Beach Olympics.

Also participating were the Cable Bahamas Connection, Grand Bahama Shipyard Sharks, Grand Bahama Port Authority Regulators, Polymers International Ltd. Reactors, Grand Bahama Power Company and the Ministry for Grand Bahama. The teams competed in a rigorous obstacle course, tug of war, dunk tank, basketball and volleyball competitions.

Members of the Special Olympics Grand Bahama Piccadilly Pirates also got in on some of the action.

Jacquie Rolle, director for Beach Olympics, said that everyone enjoyed the fun-filled day of competition.

“This was about community. This was about coming together and having fun, but also to give back and to bring awareness to a special cause,” she said. “We want to commend all of those companies that responded in a huge way. This is the first time that we’ve ever had this event and we want to thank them so much for coming out and helping us to also raise funds to present to the Special Olympics committee.”

Although a little disappointed in the turnout, Ms Rolle was very pleased that persons enjoyed themselves and teams came out to help to make the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival Beach Olympics 2015 a success.