“Once an Olympian, Always an Olympian”

The first formal gathering of BVI Olympians was on November 22, 2001, at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, when the BVI and the Olympics was the focus of a lecture in the College’s lecture series.

Six Olympians—from the British Virgin Islands first and third Olympic Games delegations—Los Angeles 1984 and its third in Barcelona, 1992, were on hand for the first Olympians reunion.

That first gathering included Dean Greenaway, Guy Hill, Keith Thomas from Los Angeles ’84 and Karl Scatliffe and John Shirley, Barcelona ’92.

In 2003, Dean Greenaway, Los Angeles ’84, attended the World Olympians General Assembly in Lausanne, Switzerland. Several attempts since then to formalize the organization had been difficult because of scheduling conflicts.

In 2005, seven BVI Olympians were involved in the Queen’s Baton Relay, leading up to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.

Between October 19-22, 2006, Greenaway attended the 1st Olympians of the Americas Summit in Santo Domingo and returned with renewed vigor to formalize the BVIOA.

On November 8, 2006, the BVI Olympians Association was formalized. Nine of 11 Olympians in the territory, who represented the BVI in athletics and sailing at four of its six Olympic Games appearances, attended the meeting.

Dean 'The Sportsman' Greenaway, who represented the territory in athletics during the inaugural Olympic Games appearance in Los Angeles in 1984, was elected president. Joining Greenaway on the executive are: Vice President Steve Augustine, who competed in athletics during the 1996 games in Atlanta; Two time Olympic sailor Robbie Hirst, the territory’s representative in Barcelona, 1992 and Atlanta, 1996, is the Secretary/Treasurer. Karl “Dub” Scatliffe, a Barcelona 1992 Olympian, is the executive committee member. BVI Olympic Committee president Rey O’Neal, is the honorary president of the BVI Olympians Association.

Other BVI Olympians attending the meeting included: 1984 Los Angeles Olympians Guy Hill, athletics; Keith Thomas and Dr. Robin Tattersall from sailing. Tattersall also attended the 1992 Games in Barcelona. 1988 Seoul Olympian, Willis “Chucky” Todman, athletics and 1992 Barcelona Olympian John Shirley, from sailing. BVI Olympic Committee vice president John Lewis also witnessed the elections.