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   SAINT LUCIAN DARREN SAMMY NAMED CAPTAIN OF THE WEST INDIES CRICKET TEAM.

Darren Sammy Captain

 St John’s Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board announces that Darren
Sammy has been appointed West Indies captain.
“We are at the dawn of a new era in West Indies cricket and the
Selection Committee has entrusted the challenging job of captaincy to Darren Sammy because it is believed that he has demonstrated the
attributes of a leader of this diverse group of men,” said Selection
Committee Chairman Clyde Butts.
The Selection Committee, the Head Coach Ottis Gibson, the CEO Dr. Ernest
Hilaire and the Director of Cricket Tony Howard discussed the leadership
of the West Indies senior cricket team with a number of candidates who
had been shortlisted for the position of captaincy and following the
discussions the Selection Committee recommended Sammy as captain to the Board of Directors. The recommendations of the Selection Committee were approved by the Board.

Brendan Nash has been appointed be Sammy’s deputy but only for the Test
Series against Sri Lanka.
“Chris Gayle, the former captain, led the West Indies during a
challenging period and the Board thanks him for stepping up then but it
is now time to past the mantle on as the West Indies rebuilds,” said
WICB CEO Dr. Ernest Hilaire.
“Being appointed West Indies captain is an honour and distinction which
I will treat with the highest regard and dignity,” Sammy said.

“I believe my captaincy of the Windward Islands, a young team which I
have been moulding into playing consistently competitive cricket, will
stand me in good stead as West Indies captain as we work on building a
team for the future,” Sammy outlined.
“I have always given my all when I prepare and play for the West Indies
and nothing will change now. I know this will be a difficult challenge
and I will take the torch from Chris and hold it high as we forge
ahead,” Sammy said.
“I have been playing for the West Indies since 2004 and over those six
years I have built strong relationships with many players and I expect
to have the full support of the squad,” Sammy said.
The WICB also announces the West Indies Test squad for the Tour to Sri
Lanka.
Darren Sammy – Captain

Brendan Nash – Vice Captain (for the Test Series v Sri Lanka)

Christopher Gayle

Adrian Barath

Carlton Baugh Jr – Wicketkeeper

Sulieman Benn

Darren Bravo

Dwayne Bravo

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Nelon Pascal

Kemar Roach

Andre Russell

Shane Shillingford

Devon Smith

Devon Thomas – Wicketkeeper

“This team has a combination of seasoned professionals who have
represented the West Indies well at the highest level and up-and-coming
players who have proven their skills and demonstrated their talent in
regional and A Team cricket,” Butts said.
“The job of nurturing these young players on tour and ensuring that they
are warmly welcomed falls in the hands of the senior men and we have no
doubt that they will ensure a harmonious tour in Sri Lanka and onwards,”
Butts said.
“Andre Russell has received his maiden call up after performing well for
Jamaica and the West Indies A. The Selection Committee believes that he
is a most talented all rounder who can very likely feature prominently
in West Indies cricket in years to come,” Butts explained.



=====================================================================

Darren Sammy named West Indies captain
ESPNcricinfo staff
 

West Indies sack Gayle as captain
West Indies have sacked Chris Gayle as captain, passing the job on to St
Lucian all-rounder Darren Sammy.

Jamaican batsman Gayle, 31, had been in charge of the side since 2007.

But with West Indies seventh in the Test rankings table and eighth on
the one-day international ladder, the West Indies Cricket Board has made
a change.

Sammy, 26, used his Twitter account to say: "Life now presents its
biggest challenge and with God at my side I'll face it with pride and
dignity."

The first St Lucian to represent West Indies, he has emerged as one of
the fastest improving players in the squad, performing an important role
as a steady seam bowler and a batsman able to bat as the situation
demands.

Sammy has appeared in eight Tests, 43 one-day internationals and 19
Twenty20 internationals.

I have built strong relationships with many players and I expect to have
the full support of the squad
Darren Sammy
WICB chief executive Dr Ernest Hilaire said: "Chris Gayle, the former
captain, led the West Indies during a challenging period and the board
thanks him for stepping up then.

"But it is now time to pass the mantle on as the West Indies rebuilds."

Selection committee chairman Clyde Butts said: "We are at the dawn of a
new era in West Indies cricket and we have entrusted the challenging job
of captaincy to Darren Sammy because it is believed that he has
demonstrated the attributes of a leader of this diverse group of men."

In the same WICB statement, Sammy said: "Being appointed West Indies
captain is an honour and distinction which I will treat with the highest
regard and dignity.

"I believe my captaincy of the Windward Islands, a young team which I
have been moulding into playing consistently competitive cricket, will
stand me in good stead as West Indies captain as we work on building a
team for the future.

"I have always given my all when I prepare and play for the West Indies
and nothing will change now. I know this will be a difficult challenge
and I will take the torch from Chris and hold it high as we forge ahead.

"I have been playing for the West Indies since 2004 and over those six
years I have built strong relationships with many players and I expect
to have the full support of the squad."

Gayle, noted as one of the game's fiercest batsmen when on song, had
initially taken the captaincy when Ramnaresh Sarwan succumbed to a
serious shoulder injury on a tour of England in the summer of 2007.

Despite unorthodox methods, Gayle won the one-day series in England and
also led the team to a surprise win in the first Test in South Africa at
the end of the year.

A lean period followed, but there was the significant scalp of a home
Test series win over England in early 2009.

When England extracted their revenge in the return series that followed
a few months later, West Indies were beaten in three days at Lord's.
Gayle, a leading advocate of Twenty20 cricket, declared he "would not be
so sad" if Test cricket died out.

The WICB has named a 15-man Test squad to tour Sri Lanka.


West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Brendan Nash (vice-capt), Chris
Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh Jr (wkt), Sulieman Benn, Darren
Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach,
Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas (wkt).

West Indies sack Gayle as captain
West Indies have sacked Chris Gayle as captain, passing the job on to St
Lucian all-rounder Darren Sammy.

Jamaican batsman Gayle, 31, had been in charge of the side since 2007.

But with West Indies seventh in the Test rankings table and eighth on
the one-day international ladder, the West Indies Cricket Board has made
a change.

Sammy, 26, used his Twitter account to say: "Life now presents its
biggest challenge and with God at my side I'll face it with pride and
dignity."

The first St Lucian to represent West Indies, he has emerged as one of
the fastest improving players in the squad, performing an important role
as a steady seam bowler and a batsman able to bat as the situation
demands.

Sammy has appeared in eight Tests, 43 one-day internationals and 19
Twenty20 internationals.

I have built strong relationships with many players and I expect to have
the full support of the squad
Darren Sammy
WICB chief executive Dr Ernest Hilaire said: "Chris Gayle, the former
captain, led the West Indies during a challenging period and the board
thanks him for stepping up then.

"But it is now time to pass the mantle on as the West Indies rebuilds."

Selection committee chairman Clyde Butts said: "We are at the dawn of a
new era in West Indies cricket and we have entrusted the challenging job
of captaincy to Darren Sammy because it is believed that he has
demonstrated the attributes of a leader of this diverse group of men."

In the same WICB statement, Sammy said: "Being appointed West Indies
captain is an honour and distinction which I will treat with the highest
regard and dignity.

"I believe my captaincy of the Windward Islands, a young team which I
have been moulding into playing consistently competitive cricket, will
stand me in good stead as West Indies captain as we work on building a
team for the future.

"I have always given my all when I prepare and play for the West Indies
and nothing will change now. I know this will be a difficult challenge
and I will take the torch from Chris and hold it high as we forge ahead.

"I have been playing for the West Indies since 2004 and over those six
years I have built strong relationships with many players and I expect
to have the full support of the squad."

Gayle, noted as one of the game's fiercest batsmen when on song, had
initially taken the captaincy when Ramnaresh Sarwan succumbed to a
serious shoulder injury on a tour of England in the summer of 2007.

Despite unorthodox methods, Gayle won the one-day series in England and
also led the team to a surprise win in the first Test in South Africa at
the end of the year.

A lean period followed, but there was the significant scalp of a home
Test series win over England in early 2009.

When England extracted their revenge in the return series that followed
a few months later, West Indies were beaten in three days at Lord's.
Gayle, a leading advocate of Twenty20 cricket, declared he "would not be
so sad" if Test cricket died out.

The WICB has named a 15-man Test squad to tour Sri Lanka.


West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Brendan Nash (vice-capt), Chris
Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh Jr (wkt), Sulieman Benn, Darren
Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach,
Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas (wkt).

=================================================================

In a decision marking the beginning of a new phase in
West Indies cricket, the West Indies Cricket Board has appointed
allrounder Darren Sammy as captain. His first assignment will be in Sri
Lanka in the three-Test series starting November. Sammy's predecessor
Chris Gayle, who turned down a central contract with the WICB last
month, will be part of the 15-man squad for the Test series while
Brendan Nash, the left-hand middle-order batsman, has been named vice-
captain. The role of deputy was previously held by Dwayne Bravo, who has
also not signed a central contract but keeps his place in the side.
Jamaica allrounder Andre Russell gets a maiden call-up after impressive
stints for his domestic side and West Indies A.

West Indies squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Brendan Nash (vice-captain),
Chris Gayle, Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh (wk), Sulieman Benn, Darren
Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Nelon Pascal, Kemar Roach,
Andre Russell, Shane Shillingford, Devon Smith, Devon Thomas (wk)

Tour Fixtures TBA v West Indies at Colombo (SSC)
Nov 10-12, 2010
1st Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Galle
Nov 15-19, 2010
2nd Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Colombo (RPS)
Nov 23-27, 2010
3rd Test: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Pallekele
Dec 1-5, 2010
1st ODI: Sri Lanka v West Indies at Hambantota
Dec 9, 2010




Darren Sammy
West IndiesFull name Darren Julius Garvey Sammy

Born December 20, 1983, Micoud, St Lucia

Current age 26 years 301 days

Major teams West Indies, Northern Windward Islands, St Lucia, Stanford
Superstars, University of West Indies Vice Chancellor's XI, Windward
Islands

Playing role All-rounder

Batting style Right-hand bat

Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium

Batting and fielding averages Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s
6s Ct St
Tests 8 15 0 291 48 19.40 540 53.88 0 0 36 2 8 0
ODIs 43 32 11 508 58* 24.19 531 95.66 0 2 35 19 23 0
T20Is 19 14 5 140 30 15.55 115 121.73 0 0 8 7 9 0
First-class 61 102 7 2382 121 25.07 1 16 76 0
List A 98 80 17 1516 65 24.06 0 5 54 0
Twenty20 30 22 8 248 30 17.71 194 127.83 0 0 20 10 18 0

Bowling averages Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 8 15 1462 749 27 7/66 8/98 27.74 3.07 54.1 0 3 0
ODIs 43 41 1790 1335 31 4/26 4/26 43.06 4.47 57.7 1 0 0
T20Is 19 18 345 359 24 5/26 5/26 14.95 6.24 14.3 0 1 0
First-class 61 8467 3804 147 7/66 25.87 2.69 57.5 3 9 0
List A 98 4254 3156 98 4/16 4/16 32.20 4.45 43.4 4 0 0
Twenty20 30 27 509 544 35 5/26 5/26 15.54 6.41 14.5 0 1 0

Career statistics Test debut England v West Indies at Manchester, Jun 7
-11, 2007 scorecard
Last Test Australia v West Indies at Adelaide, Dec 4-8, 2009 scorecard
Test debut England v West Indies at Manchester, Jun 7-11, 2007 scorecard
Last Test Australia v West Indies at Adelaide, Dec 4-8, 2009 scorecard
New Zealand v West Indies at Southampton, Jul 8, 2004 scorecard
Last ODI West Indies v South Africa at Port of Spain, Jun 3, 2010
scorecard
ODI statistics 
ODI match list - Batting career summary
Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages
 Bowling career summary Bowling innings list Best
innings bowling Bowling series averages
England v West Indies at The Oval, Jun 28, 2007 scorecard
Last T20I West Indies v South Africa at North Sound, May 20, 2010
scorecard
ODI statistics - 
ODI match list Batting career summary
Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages
-Bowling career summary Bowling innings list Best
innings bowling Bowling series averages
-- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Most catches in an
innings Fielding series statistics
T20I debut England v West Indies at The Oval, Jun 28, 2007 scorecard
Last T20I West Indies v South Africa at North Sound, May 20, 2010
scorecard

T20I match listBatting career summary
Batting innings list High scores Batting series averages -
-Bowling career summary Bowling innings list Best
innings bowling Bowling series averages -
-- Fielding career summary Fielding innings list Most catches in an
innings Fielding series statistics
First-class debut 2002/03
Last First-class Windward Islands v Combined Campuses and Colleges at
Bridgetown, Jan 22-24, 2010 scorecard
List A debut 2001/02
Last List A Combined Campuses and Colleges v Windward Islands at
Greenfields, Oct 16, 2010 scorecard
Twenty20 debut British Virgin Islands v St Lucia at Coolidge, Jul 12,
2006 scorecard
Last Twenty20 Barbados v Windward Islands at Bridgetown, Jul 25, 2010
scorecard

Profile Darren Julius Garvey Sammy has names invoking images of great
leadership. He is the first international cricketer to emerge from St
Lucia, an island rediscovering its cricket culture as the new Beausejour
Stadium has captured imaginations, so it is a major feat that he has
cracked into the West Indies squad. Perhaps because St Lucians have not
been as engrossed with cricket as other West Indians, it has encouraged
their players to become allrounders. Sammy, who spent some time at
Lord's with the MCC cricket staff, also showed off his skills as a
batsman and right-arm medium-pacer as part of the University of the West
Indies Vice-Chancellor's XI.

He won a one-day cap in England in 2004 - although there wasn't actually
any play in the match, it counted as the toss was made - and was called
up late to the Champions Trophy squad in September 2004 after Jermaine
Lawson pulled out with a stress-fractured back. In July 2006, he was
named as St Lucia's captain for West Indies' first-ever Twenty20
tournament and was recalled for the tour of England in 2007. After
missing the first two Tests, Sammy was drafted into the side for his
debut at Old Trafford, and celebrated with 7 for 66 in the second
innings - a performance that included three wickets in a single over. St
Lucian fans had their first opportunity to see Sammy in an ODI in his
home country when he played at Gros Islet against Sri Lanka in 2008.
Although further Test appearances have been hard to come by, Sammy has
cemented a spot in the limited-overs side as an allrounder. Playing for
a weakened team against Bangladesh in 2009, he ended the two-Test series
with 12 wickets. Further success with the ball came on Zimbabwe's tour
of the Caribbean in 2010, as he became the first West Indian to take
five wickets in a Twenty20 international. West Indies went on to lose
that game, but Sammy's bowling in the one-day series which followed - he
took eight wickets at 12.50 and an economy rate of just 2.85 - was a
major factor in the home side's win. He was also one of the bright spots
in West Indies' whitewashing by the South Africans later that year,
although this time it was his batting that grabbed the attention: he
scored his runs at a strike-rate of 145.31, and registered the fastest
ever half-century by a West Indian in the second ODI at North Sound,
very nearly snatching an unlikely win.
Vaneisa Baksh June 2010



Latest Articles Darren Sammy named West Indies captain (Oct 17, 2010)
Benn, Sammy in line for enhanced central contracts (Aug 20, 2010)
Sarwan returns to lead Guyana in Caribbean T20 (Jul 14, 2010)
South Africa edge home despite Sammy heroics (May 24, 2010)
All-round Sammy steers West Indies home (Apr 30, 2010)
Darren Julius Garvey Sammy has names invoking images of great
leadership. He is the first international cricketer to emerge from St
Lucia, an island rediscovering its cricket culture as the new Beausejour
Stadium has captured imaginations, so it is a major feat that he has
cracked into the West Indies squad. Perhaps because St Lucians have not
been as engrossed with cricket as other West Indians, it has encouraged
their players to become allrounders. Sammy, who spent some time at
Lord's with the MCC cricket staff, also showed off his skills as a
batsman and right-arm medium-pacer as part of the University of the West
Indies Vice-Chancellor's XI.

He won a one-day cap in England in 2004 - although there wasn't actually
any play in the match, it counted as the toss was made - and was called
up late to the Champions Trophy squad in September 2004 after Jermaine
Lawson pulled out with a stress-fractured back. In July 2006, he was
named as St Lucia's captain for West Indies' first-ever Twenty20
tournament and was recalled for the tour of England in 2007. After
missing the first two Tests, Sammy was drafted into the side for his
debut at Old Trafford, and celebrated with 7 for 66 in the second
innings - a performance that included three wickets in a single over. St
Lucian fans had their first opportunity to see Sammy in an ODI in his
home country when he played at Gros Islet against Sri Lanka in 2008.

Although further Test appearances have been hard to come by, Sammy has
cemented a spot in the limited-overs side as an allrounder. Playing for
a weakened team against Bangladesh in 2009, he ended the two-Test series
with 12 wickets. Further success with the ball came on Zimbabwe's tour
of the Caribbean in 2010, as he became the first West Indian to take
five wickets in a Twenty20 international. West Indies went on to lose
that game, but Sammy's bowling in the one-day series which followed - he
took eight wickets at 12.50 and an economy rate of just 2.85 - was a
major factor in the home side's win. He was also one of the bright spots
in West Indies' whitewashing by the South Africans later that year,
although this time it was his batting that grabbed the attention: he
scored his runs at a strike-rate of 145.31, and registered the fastest
ever half-century by a West Indian in the second ODI at North Sound,
very nearly snatching an unlikely win.
Vaneisa Baksh June 2010.

---------------------------------------------------------------------I I want to bring passion and energy to the captaincy – Sammy
 

Kingston, Jamaica – New Test captain Darren Sammy said that he wants to lift the energy level and bring more passion to the West Indies team.
“One thing I know for sure is I want to bring lots of energy. I don’t think I could be on a cricket field, despite what’s happening, and not show that fighting spirit and that passion,” Sammy said at his first media conference as West Indies captain.
He identified livewire all rounder Dwayne Bravo as one player who he can
call upon to help in infecting the team with positive energy.
“One of the guys who has a lot of energy is (Dwayne) Bravo so I have to bring him with me and all the other guys in order for us to reach at our goal,” Sammy outlined at the media conference in Kingston Jamaica.
When asked about that goal captain Sammy said his biggest challenge would be meeting the high expectations of the West Indian public but called for patience during a period of rebuilding.
“My biggest challenge would be to get the team to bring the results the West Indies people want. It is going to take time, we will not get the results right away, everything takes time,” said the 26 year old all rounder who takes over the captaincy from Jamaican Chris Gayle.
Sammy was put on the spot by one journalist who asked whether, in working to achieve the results he outlined, whether Sammy believes he will gain the full support of the senior players in the squad selected to tour Sri Lanka starting in November.
“Chris (Gayle) has publicly said that he would support me and the team
and that in any way possible he will help so I have full confidence that the senior players will do what they have to do,” Sammy responded.
“Any cricketer who is committed to West Indies cricket will go out there and give the best for the team and support whoever is in charge. My relationship with all the players over the years has been good and I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t continue,” commented Sammy during
the media conference which was video and audio streamed live on WindiesCricket.com.

And asked about the much-talked-about non-selection of Ramnaresh Sarwan, Sammy said that he is certain the veteran Guyanese right handed batsman will bounce back and that he is looking forward to welcoming Sarwan back with open arms.
The Selectors took a decision and I trust the judgment of the selectors but I know the character that Sarwan is and I have no doubt he will be back. He has bounced back in the past after injury and I have full confidence that Sarwan will be back and I will embrace him and the team will embrace him with open arms,” declared Sammy who has represented the West Indies in eight Tests and 62 Limited Overs matches.
Sammy agreed that the job of West Indies captain will be his toughest assignment which will test his resolve and character but said he will seek spiritual strength from the Lord and cricketing advice from legendary West Indies captains.
“As a man from a Christian background my mom always told me that the Almighty never puts His children in positions that He knows that they can’t handle. I have given this captaincy over to the hands of the Lord and with Him in charge everything is possible,” said Sammy who is recently married.
“(In terms of cricket) I will seek advice from our past successful captains – Clive Lloyd and Sir Vivian Richards,” Sammy revealed.
Sammy, the first St Lucian to play for the West Indies and the first Windward Islander to be appointed captain said that he had never envisioned being West Indies captain in his formative years.
“Growing up I dreamt of being a consistent West Indies cricketer but never did I dream of being captain. I was honoured to be even thought of as West Indies captain. It is a massive honour for me and I vow to take this position and go on to serve the West Indies people with pride and dignity,” Sammy assured.

==============================================================================

SAINT LUCIA'S TEAM IN DELHI

St. Lucia's team for the Commonwealth Games arrived in Delhi on the morning of Thursday 30th September, and was honoured with a formal welcome to the Commonwealth Games Athlete Village that same evening. Five teams were officially welcomed at this ceremony, Bermuda, Guernsey, Jamaica, Uganda and St. Lucia.


The ceremony opened with cultural dancers performing a number of routines, before St. Lucia's Chef de Mission, Teddy Matthews, was called up onto the stage at the Village auditorium to be formally welcomed by the Village Mayor. Mr. Matthews was presented with a miniature of the Commonwealth Games Baton, that was carried through all countries of the Commonwealth, including St. Lucia in March. Mr. Matthews in turn presented the Mayor with a carved wooden plaque of the Pitons, and gave a short and gracious address. The St. Lucian flag was then raised, and the National Anthem played.

More dancing followed, and a guest appearance was made by the Games mascot, Shera, who joined the St. Lucia team for a group photograph. Commonwealth Games Federation Caribbean Vice-President, Fortuna Belrose, was amongst the many VIP's who joined the welcome ceremony.

Team members now have two days of preparation before the official opening ceremony on Sunday, with the first sporting events beginning on Monday.
Joyce Huxley

SAINT LUCIANS DUE BACK ON SUNDAY

The inaugural Summer Youth Olympic Games officially drew to a close in Singapore on Thursday night in an hour-long spectacle, that included a stunning display of fireworks, emotive music and dazzling dance performances, all on the world’s largest floating stage in Marina Bay.

The audience of 27,000 people, saw enjoyed a fast-moving show that injected the kind of youth and energy into the proceedings that have become synonymous with these Games. The young athletes themselves took to the stage for the duration of the show, and could be seen dancing to the music and pulling faces as the cameras closed in on them.

As the ceremony begun, highlights capturing the laughter and tears of the Young Olympians over the past 12 days of the Games were played on giant video screens while lively audience participation was a key feature of the evening.

The most poignant moment of the evening came during the protocol when International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge announcing the conclusion of the competition with the words: "I now declare the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore closed, and, in accordance with tradition, I call upon the Youth of the World to assemble in four years’ time in Nanjing, China, for the second Summer Youth Olympic Games."

The Olympic Anthem was sung as the Olympic Flag was lowered and symbolically handed over from Singaporean table tennis Youth Olympic silver medallist Isabelle Li Siyun, to Mayor of Singapore’s North East Community Development Council Teo Ser Luck, to the President of the IOC, to the Mayor of Nanjing Ji Jianye and finally to Chinese shooting Youth Olympic gold medallist Gao Ting Jie.

The Youth Olympic Flame was then slowly extinguished in a moving moment as the stage was shrouded in darkness.

But a final, energetic performance from a group modern dancers and singers resurrected the carnival atmosphere once more as 200 huge globe balloons were sent high into the night sky to signal the end of the Games and leave Singaporean’s partying on until the early hours.

In his closing speech, Rogge said: "Congratulations and thank you Singapore for a job superbly done. You rose brilliantly to the challenge of combining elite sport, modern education and culture. Throughout these 12 days, we all enjoyed the warm hospitality of the public authorities, of the very successful Organising Committee and of the 20,000 wonderful volunteers. These Games will leave a great human legacy in Singapore and around the world."

In a message to the athletes, Rogge continued: "Dear athletes, you made us proud. You have learnt what it means to be a true champion, not simply a winner. You have shown us that a new generation is ready to embrace and share Olympic values. You thrilled us with your splendid performances. But, more than that, you inspired us with your enthusiasm, your spirit and the sheer joy you brought to the task of competing, learning and living with fellow athletes from around the world. These were truly inspirational Games. Thank you."

The event bought together 3,500 of the world’s most talented athletes aged from 14 to 18. Coming from 204 countries and competing over 26 disciplines, the young athletes in Singapore competed in innovative new events such as the immensely popular 3-on-3 street basketball and mixed male and female relays.

Five athletes from Saint Lucia took part in the Games:

Athletics - Rosen Daniel, 400m - sadly Daniel did not complete his event as he pulled a hamstring shortly after the start, and was unable to continue in his race. He has been receiving intense physiotherapy and further medical attention during his time in Singapore.

Boxing - Lyndell Marcellin competed in the Light Welter Weight (64kg) Division, he lost his first bout in the preliminary round when he was drawn against Venezulan Samuel Zapata, the ultimate silver medallist in this Division, which had six boxers. Marcellin went on to win the 5th Place bout against Afghanistan's Muhammad Oryakhil.

Sailing - the youngest member of the Saint Lucia team, fourteen year-old Stephanie Lovell, competed in a total of 12 races in the Byte C11 Girls' One Person Dinghy competition, over six days, finishing in 23rd place in the fleet.

Swimming - Julien Brice competed in two events, finishing in 25th place in the 50m Free, with a time of 24.85s, and 41st place in the 100m Free with a time of 55.01s.

Swimming - Siona Huxley competed in two events, and in the 50m Backstroke she finished 12th in the heats so went on to the semi-finals, where she finished 13th overall in a time of 30.98s. In the 50m Freestyle, Huxley finished in 40th place with a time of 28.81s.

The youngsters also participated in wide-ranging cultural and educational programmes including workshops on the value of friendship, the dangers of doping and benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

The new additions to the programme have been such a success that the IOC have said that they are looking to introduce them into the traditional Olympics in the future while in his closing press conference, Rogge stated that the event in Singapore has exceeded his highest expectations.

He said: "I knew it would be a good organisation from our Singaporean friends but they have exceeded their level of perfection. This was a huge success, more than we expected, and every four years the Youth Olympic Games will go to another city and they will improve the quality of the event. I am very optimistic about the future." By Joyce Huxley.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marcellin in Action at the Youth Olympics in Singapore

---------

Marcellin in red shots

On the night of Saturday August 21st, St. Lucian boxer Lyndel Marcellin stepped into the ring at the Suntec International Convention Center in Singapore to face Samuel Zapata from Venezuela in the Light Welter Weight (64kg) division.

The entire St. Lucian delegation cheered, and screamed for their fighter in red, encouraging other onlookers to side with the underdog. This was not to be Marcellin's night. Zapata, a seasoned veteran of the amateur fight scene, entered the ring with over 140 fights notched under his belt, and this experience certainly showed. Marcellin, still a student in his sport at this level, showed great speed and agility, and hung in there for all 3 rounds (3 minutes per round). He gave his teammates and the crowd the opportunity to support him for a full bout, while his Cuban coach, Renaldo Toledo, had the opportunity to assess Marcellin's progress following the challenging training schedule since his arrival in Singapore.

Zapata took advantage of his experience in the first round and came out attacking, keeping Marcellin on the defense for most of the round. Much to the dismay of the St. Lucia fans, the round was scored 7-0 in favor of the Venezuelan, despite two or three clear landed punches by Marcellin.

The second round was the best fought round, as both boxers defended extremely well each time one countered, and the only point scored was a counter punch landed by Zapata in the final seconds of the round, which was scored 1-0, giving a cumulated score of 8-0 after round 2.

Fatigue seemed to set in during the final round, and although Marcellin did his best to attack, the tactical Venezuela kept him on his back foot and denied his attempts to score points. The final outcome of the fight, declared Zapata the winner with a final score of 11-0. However most of the crowd, including Marcellin himself, knew that he deserved to have scored a couple points.

Holding his head high, he exited the ring to a big round of applause and cheers knowing that although this was not his day, he had accomplished the goal he had set for himself coming into this competition; he got his Three Rounds.

Marcellin will have another Three Rounds when he comes up against Muhammad Oryakhil of Afghanistan in the Place 5 bout on Monday 23rd August at 7:30 pm (7:30 am Monday morning in St. Lucia).

In the meantime, Zapata went on to win his semi-final match against Fabian Maidana of Argentina and so proceeds to the final Gold Medal bout on Tuesday 24th August, where he will face Ricardus Kincaitis of Lithuania.

With the Junior competition recently changing from a FOUR rounds (2 minutes per round) format to a THREE rounds (at 3 minutes per round) match, the challenge to box longer rounds has certainly tested all these young athletes' fitness level. However, this format now matches that of the senior boxers, and as a result will prepare the junior athletes to become great fighters in the future.  By Joyce Huxley

sAINT  LUCIA'S  LOVELL SETS SAIL AT YOUTH GAMES

Stephanie Lovell (at center), lots of delays in the events due to poor weather.

 Stephanie Lovell, St. Lucia's sailing representative in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore, is facing tough conditions that are throwing the sailing schedule into disarray. Fourteen-year old Lovell is one of 32 entries in the Byte C11 Girls' One Person Dinghy competition, that is scheduled to include a total of 16 races.

More comfortable and experienced with the Optimist and Laser Class dinghies, Lovell had only a few weeks to become familiar with the Byte C11, prior to her departure for Singapore on 12th August.. The Saint Lucia Sailing Association arranged for the lease of a Byte C11, that was delivered to the island at the end of July, and Lovell spent as many hours as she could, becoming familiar with the boat in local waters in Reduit Bay.

The first race of the Youth Olympics took place on Tuesday 17th August, four days after the team arrived in Singapore, and after a practice race had to be cancelled due to lack of wind. In the first race of the series, Lovell performed very well, placing 9th in the fleet, much to the delight of her coach, Ben Todd and her mother, Monique Deveaux-Lovell, who are both in Singapore with the St. Lucia Team.

In her second race that day, Lovell placed 23rd, and after six races over three days of competition, Lovell is now ranked 23rd out of the 32 sailors. Conditions have been challenging, and Lovell, along with the rest of the fleet, had to wait out for five hours on the second day of the event, while thunderstorms passed overhead. The organising committee delayed the race start because of fears of lightening striking the masts. In addition, all races were cancelled on Saturday 21 August due to inclement weather.

Stepahnie Lovell still faces three days of competition, on 23rd, 24th and 25th August, with another ten races scheduled over these three days. Unused to competing in such a large fleet, Lovell has been performing strongly, although finding it difficult to maintain her position with the leaders. On several of the races, she has been up with the leaders at the start of the race but then lost ground later.

The current fleet leader in the Byte C11 Girls' is Austria's Lara Vadleau, with Constanze Stolze of Germany and Celine Carlsen of Denmark sharing the second spot. However, with fewer than half of the races completed, rankings can change over the next few days.

In other news from St. Lucia, runner Rosen Daniel was unable to compete in the finals of the 400m. In the heats earlier in the week, Daniel came to an abrupt finish after only 100m due to a strained hamstring. Despite intensive physiotherapy, Daniel was not given the all-clear by the medical team at the Youth Olympic Village, and he was forced to sit out on the D Final on Saturday 21 August. With another week to go, Daniel will continue to receive daily treatment for his injury, while also taking full advantage of all of the educational and cultural programmes on offer.

Swimmers Siona Huxley and Julien Brice have completed their last events, and boxer Lyndell Marcellin is gearing up for his first bout on Saturday evening. By Joyce Huxley.

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Jamaica's Odane Is YOG's Undisputed Sprint King

Jamaica's Odane Skeen took a major step forward towards realising his dream of becoming his country's next top sprint sensation by winning the Youth Olympic Games 100m final on Saturday evening.

Roared on by a full-capacity crowd which packed Bishan Stadium to the rafters, the 15-year-old took the blue-ribbon event in 10.42sec.

The 100m final had been a highly-anticipated event because of the sudden rise of Britain's David Bolarinwa just before the YOG. For Skeen had been the fastest sprinter in the 16-17 years category with his 10.46sec -- until Bolarinwa clocked 10.39sec in London this month.

Then, in the heats two days ago, Bolarinwa emerged the faster of the two when he clocked 10.62sec -- 0.01sec faster than Skeen.

But in the end, when it came to the final reckoning, Skeen came out the winner, by quite a gap.

In fact, Bolarinwa, who clocked 10.51sec, did not even win the silver. He was apparently edged out by surprise silver medallist Masaki Nashimoto of Japan who also clocked 10.51sec but was judged to have beaten the British lad in a photo-finish.

The Girls' 100m final witnessed a major upset as Josephine Omaka of Nigeria defeated race favourite Myasia Jacobs of the United States.

Omaka, 16, powered down the track and breasted the tape in 11.58sec, 0.08sec faster than Jacobs who was so disappointed that she could not even bring herself to flash a smile during the medal ceremony.
Fany Chales of the Dominican Republic was third in 11.65sec.

The United States did win gold though - in the Girls 400m.

Robin Reynolds was just too good for the rest of the field, winning in 52.57sec. Romania's Bianca Razor was second in 53.10sec while Nigeria's Bukola Abogunloko was third in 53.47sec.

The Boys' 110m hurdles turned up a pleasant surprise - all top three hurdlers ended up clocking new personal best times. But it was Australia's Nicholas Hough who emerged top dog in 13.37sec. China's Wang Dongqiang was second (13.41sec) and Finland's Jussi Kanervo took the bronze in 13.53sec.

Germany captured two field events -- the Girls Long Jump and Discus. Jumper Lena Malkus won the final with her first effort of 6.40m but suffered an anxious moment when Romania's Alina Rotoru landed in the sand on her final attempt.

When the dust cleared, Malkus could smile again - Rotoru's diustance read 6.38m.

In contrast, German thrower Shanice Craft was a class above the rest in the discus final. All her throws were above the 51m mark, while all her rivals threw below 50m. Craft took the gold and saved her best for her last throw -- recording her best effort of 55.49m.By Gerard Wong

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SAINT LUCIAN DARREN SAMMY- A BIG PERFORMER IN WEST INDIES CRICKET

Darren Sammy

Friday Aug. 20,2010 --- The WICB Cricket and Selection committees met recently to review the performances of players on WICB retainer contracts. In their review the joint committee effort found that left arm spinner Sulieman Benn and all rounder Darren Sammy were the big performers among the 14 players who hold WICB Central Retainer Contracts for the year October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010.

Benn moved from having taken 29 wickets in the 2008-2009 season to a grand total 40 wickets in the 2009-2010 season in the three forms of the game at the highest level – Tests, One Day Internationals and International Twenty20s.

The Barbadian’s cumulative average also came down significantly from 46.12 runs per wicket in 2008-2009 to 27.7 runs per wicket in 2009-2010.

Sammy increased his wicket haul from 24 wickets to 32 wickets but he made significant progress on improving his average – moving from 53.16 runs per wicket to 29.13 runs per wicket (all three formats of the game).

Chris Gayle’s stats for 2009-2010 remained mostly on par with his stats for the previous year.

Incidentally all three of Benn, Sammy and Gayle have been nominated by the ICC for awards in the LG ICC Awards 2010. Additionally veteran middle order batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Gayle are the only two West Indians ranked in the top ten performers in the world in the ICC rankings for batsmen and bowlers.
 Chanderpaul is ranked 5th on the list of top Test batsmen, having slipped from his number one ranking while Gayle is also ranked fifth on the list of top ODI batsmen. Chanderpaul is ranked 10th on the ODI list.

There are no bowlers in the top ten of the Reliance Mobile ICC rankings for Tests or ODIs.

The WICB will be offering 15 players Central Retainer Contracts for the period October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011 and will also offer ten players Developmental Contracts for the same period.

Players currently on WICB Central Retainer Contracts: Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Denesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn, Dave Bernard, Narsingh Deonarine, Travis Dowlin, Brendan Nash, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach

.Today, on morning of Wednesday 18th August, Siona Huxley competed in her favourite event, 50m Backstroke. Swimming in Heat 1, Huxley placed 4th in her heat, and 12th overall, in a time of 30.86s, guaranteeing her a place in tonight's semi-finals. Also going through to semi-finals is Jamaica's Kandese Nangle, with whom Huxley has enjoyed keen competition at regional events over the years. Nangle placed 14th overall, in a time of 31.09s. The top sixteen swimmers proceed to semi-finals. The fastest finisher in the 50m Back heats was Russian Alexandra Papusha who recorded a time of 29.64s, closely followed by French swimmer, Mathilde Cini who completed the event in 29.70s and Sweden's Lovisa Eriksson in 29.71s.


During the evening's semi-finals, Huxley finished with a time of 30.98s, placing 7th in her heat and 13th overall. Jamaica's Kandese Nangle placed 12th overall in a time of 30.91s. The top eight in the semi-finals, led by France's Mathilde Cini with a time of 29.22, will proceed to finals on Thursday night. Huxley swims again tomorrow morning, competing in the 50m Freestyle.


At the Singapore Sports School tonight, history was made when Trinidad's Christian Homer swam a strong 26.36s in the Boys 50m Back finals. Homer came in to the finals with the fastest seed time, having topped the semi-finalists with a strong 26.31s the previous evening. Although favourite to win, Homer faced strong competition from local Singapore boy Rainer Kai Wee Ng, who finished second in a time of 26.45, while Kuwait's Abdullah Altuwaini and Australia's Max Ackermann tied for third place in a time of 26.46s.

Siona Huxley 50m Back makes Semi Finals