The Eleutheran - Eleuthera News, Sport and much more from Eleuthera: 08 Olympics, Reason for Hope-Eleuthera and the Caribbean

08 Olympics, Reason for Hope-Eleuthera and the Caribbean
================================================================================
admin on 28 July, 2008 
 
With a population of 35 to 40 million, the many islands of the Caribbean
constitute a miniscule proportion of the globe. However, disproportionately we
have an awesome opportunity as a region to bring home quality medals and
finishes from the Beijing 2008 Olympics, on August 8th to 24th. Overall we
should provide a modest yet powerful contribution.    The Bahamas along with
Cuba, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago have been the top four in recent years with
the contributions of the likes of "The Golden Girls" (Bahamas), Donald Quarie
(Jamaica), Marlene Ottey (Jamaica), Ato Bolton (Trinidad) and any number of
boxers from Cuba.    In 2008 the names to look out for include, Bahamian Donald
Thomas-world high-jump champ in Osaka, 100m record holder Usain Bolt (Jamaica),
100m ex titlist Asafa Powell (Jamaica), 200m Olympic gold medalist Veronica
Campbell-Brown (Jamaica), Cuban 110m hurdles world titlist Dayron Robles as well
as many other performers in several categories, including baseball, boxing,
wrestling and volleyball.    Eleutherans will have our hearts and eyes on 400m
runner, Chris Brown of Weymss Bight, a key component of World Championship 4x400
national teams.     In June, Brown defeated recently crowned NCAA 400m champion
Andretti Bain in a hotly contested 400m in the Scotiabank Olympic Trials in
Nassau with a time of 45.43 sec vs. Bain's 45.53.   "I am confident now that the
trials are over with and done so I could now focus on Beijing. I have a few more
meets in Europe so I am confident that I can get on the medal podium in
Beijing", said Brown in conversation with a Nassau paper after the event.