Celebrating Women in Sport 2021

We are now in the month of March 2021. TASVG proudly joins the rest of the world in observing International Women’s Day (IWD), 8 March. This is a very important day for women across the globe as they continue the battle for due recognition and gender equality.

Happily, TASVG has the benefit of sufficient awareness and maturity to have several women on its executive, having been duly elected at the most recent General Meeting. Alexandra Walrond is our Secretary while Jacintha Ballantyne holds the post of Treasurer. Chantal LaGuerre is the Assistant Secretary/Treasurer with LaRissa John as a Committee Member. The election of the aforementioned ladies assures TASVG of being the most gender equal national sports association in St Vincent and the Grenadines, an outstanding achievement.

TASVG is also very proud that Kineke Alexander, currently heads the Athletes Commission of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Area Association, the strongest region in global athletics. Jacintha Ballantyne, serves as Treasurer of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympic Committee (SVGOC) and sits on the Americas Federation of Netball Associations (AFNA).

We are heartened by the outstanding performances of Vincentian women in sports and endorse the SVGOC’s dedication of its IWD 2021 celebrations to Gloria Ballantyne MBE, dubbed ‘The Nation’s First Lady of Sport’ in a publication by the Olympic Academy in 1998, the year she was awarded the MBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the recommendation of the then Prime Minister, Sir James Mitchell. Of course, Gloria was also an outstanding athlete in her days at school, before committing her adult life to Netball.

TASVG applauds all girls and women in sport, especially those who have chosen the sport of athletics, our sport, as their primary sporting interest. We congratulate all those who have gained scholarships and national representation, having helped to make our country known across the globe and our people, extremely proud.