Local sport leaders accused of neglecting some disciplines
Dave Nicholls is an international bobsledder who recently moved to the BVI to find enthusiasts and develop the sport here.
With bobsleighing being a winter sport, Nicholls knew the absence of an ice track was one of the challenges he’d face in the BVI. What he didn’t expect is the so-called non-interest of the BVI Olympic Committee (BVIOC).
Nicholls explained that in order to practice and compete in bobsleigh internationally, teams had to be licensed by the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF).
He formed the BVI Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation as part of efforts to get certified by IBSF but explained that he has since been informed that the head of the BVIOC is only interested in allocating resources to track and field.
“Someone on the BVI Olympic Committee was quite enthusiastic about the sport but also shared with me that the president of the BVI Olympic Association appears to be rather focused on only one sport — that being track and field,” Nicholls explained.
He continued: “I was told that he has tunnel vision and that people wanted to do swimming, boxing, wrestling and lots of other sports and represent the BVI and they were prevented from doing so. I’m here to help whoever wants to learn the sport but I don’t want to waste my time. I have a lot of other people who are interested in learning the sport, people who want to use my equipment, my coaches and my experience in the sport,” Nicholls explained.
Despite the reported lack of interest, Nicholls said he is committed to developing bobsleighing in the community as a number of men and women have already shown interest in learning the sport. But he said it’s sad members of the BVIOC are reportedly not open to developing disciplines other than track and field. He said this is not the vision that the international Olympic body has for sports.
“When you have members of the BVIOC that are not promoting the ideals of the International Olympic Committee as they should, they’re taking that opportunity away from people here on the island. That’s a shame because every person should have the right to experience any sport, especially a team sport where you’re building lifelong friendships and camaraderie,” Nicholls stated.
It is not clear whether the president of the BVIOC, Ephraim Penn, has ever met with Nicholls to discuss the development of bobsleighing in the BVI and whether he is truly only focused on developing the sport of track and field in the territory.
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That’s how wicked and one sided they can be….Welcome to the BVI! I hope things work out for you,bro…I applaud you for trying to bring something different to the BVI.
Listen we could take part in canoeing and rowing, swimming at a more advance level. we have enough water here to to practice and take part in more water sports.
This is why we need someone young with a vision as the committee head! BVI have a failure. Always hiring people who are either not capable or stuck back in the year 1990. We are not Jamaica! We will never have track stars like Jamaica! Let’s put some focus else where! Bob sleighing is a great sports! I also like what “hmm” said. Maybe this Mr. Nicholls should become the head of the committee. He seem more knowledgeable in the firild of sports.
Fr, watersports, soccer, judo, rugby, archery. All those things we could have representation for
He only sees one side of the coin. Where there’s no vision sports will be doomed.
I so agree with you. For 2 Carifta swimming competitions I have remarked about the absence of bvi. Probably the only eastern Caribbean not present. Look at all the water we have around us. I know it’s not enough and we need a pool but get it done. There are many areas where the canoeing can be done. If the leader of the BVIOC is not interested then he needs to make room for someone who can push to get these other sports in. Track and Field is already established.
He moved here to get the VI in bobsleighing? How presumptuous! Maybe some research was in order. Everyone seems to come to the VI because they have them at heart…really?
Now that you have gotten an unexpected response and have taken to the media, what’s next on your agenda?
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation
but we here cant get a drag strip nor the horse track up and running again
This visitor needs to do his research before introducing this winter sport to the BVI. The BVIOC is just over 40 years old now and all the committee members enjoy their annual month long holiday at some warm international sports venue to represent and support the participating BVI belonger athletes. The BVIOC has reluctantly supported 2 winter sport belonger athletes; most recently Adam Crook in 2014 at Sochi, Russia. This visitor would have a better luck introducing bobsleds to Antarctica than the BVI.
Don’t forget we also have sailing, SUP, as well as a decent locale for triathlons. However, abject lack of interest in these matters hereabouts.
In this case, I do not think the problem is the committee. I think the fellow was a bit too presumptuous. Maybe do some home work and liaise with the committee BEFORE making such a commitment. That sport does not seem like one they would have included in their budget or would see any need to prioritize right now. They cant help you. Do it on your own if it means that much and maybe later they will reconsider if it picks up relevant traction. This what happens when you give the impression that BVI is rich. People come thinking you giving away money and that you do not know the meaning of the word “budget”. Not because you were told “NO” means your complaint in the media is justified. Get used to it and make something positive out of it. We do not need any reason to be divided in this small country and I would have to support the committee on this one. Karen vibes.
Sports is big time business, only bvi born or belonger athletes can represent bvi in any sport internationally, is he just interested in fun or developing serious athletes, if it is fun he dont need the olympic committee, where is he going to train these bvi athletes who can make the grade. It took athletics 40 plus years to get their first athlete to qualify for the olympics, and i dont mean just showing up, but actually qualifying. We all have to start somewhere, but this is not the way to go about it, show some maturity and go about it the right way. My question is do you have bvi potential athletes interested. When jamaica started, they used and still do, use US born and based athletes who had ties to jamaica, can you say the same, in that you need persons who live in the environment and not here in to bvi where there is no snow nor facilities.
Climate change is upon us so this proposal will prosper soon
I don’t go to Kentucky Fry Chicken if I want a hamburger……..LOL
There are older folks with vision. Just say “someone with vision”. Young need their opportunity too but there are old goons out here who are craving it as well.
Let’s get to know Dave Nichols…
https://www.ibsf.org/en/athletes/athlete/263268/Nicholls
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-nicholls-0b8403a8/
In 2021 he competed for Israel after attaining citizenship by making aliyah.
https://thecjn.ca/arts/sports/jewish-cool-runnings-canadian-on-israeli-bobsled-team-aims-for-beijing/
He has been traveling to Caribbean countries trying to make money by creating an interest in bobsleigh. He lives in the United States, not BVI. He has no rights to live or work here. BVI is just another stop on his scamming tour! Stop believing every traveling salesman who comes around peddling BS. This man has an agenda!
The cost of participating in this sport is very high. Can we afford this?
Yes I mean all water sports, there is a lot and I see people doing them here but just for recreational purposes we need someone to look into it as a competitive sports and do some events, we can do cycling too.
So he packs his bags and head to BVI THEN decides to look into this? Why come here without solid details to justify the trip down?
I’m sorry… Did someone inform Mr. Nicholls that Virgin Islanders were interested in bobsledding in anyway? So much so that he had to move here for that reason?
Stop giving these people air time … his priorities are obviously mixed up.
I’m sorry but the BVI is still a young territory, slowly working our way up the development ladder.
We did not have slaves to build our early towns nor finance the development of our early economic roots by using free slave labor. Places like the USA and UK did have that free labor boost for a few hundred years so many states and local businesses can easily support the development and growth of bobsledding which is in fact one of the most expensive sports to get into and fund. Corporate sponsorship is a must.
This guy’s argument just sounds fishy. He loves and wants to keep enjoying a winter sport but retired to an island where there will never be any winter in his lifetime. Then expects the local population and businesses to put out the millions of dollars needed to fake the environment for the training of the handful of people who may be interested. The BVI is just barely getting track and field and some level of swimming off the ground in recent years but this guy wants millions funneled to him to run his little bobslead club.
If he really wants to get rich quick, he can become a mega preacher on TV. He will have a private jet in no time. Leave what little funds our local students are getting alone please.
Hahaha! Thank you for the laugh. He looks like he could pass for a mega preacher in truth. And the fact that they say he’s from Israel, oh boy, you could be on to something hahaha. If only he had spoken to the Clines. Another mega revival for sure!!!
So for you that don’t understand how the Olympic money works – you start a BVI bobslay federation and then you apply to the International BobSlay Fed who gets money from the International Olympic Committee for Athletes Development which is paid via the National Olympic Committee.
The National OC gets money from the IOC for it to operate but most of it comes from the programs via the Federation’s.
If there was a BVI bob with BVI peeps they would get funded because the International BS Fed wants as many countries to participate as possible because then they get more status and money with the IOC.
Our OC could do way more than it does and there should be a term limit on the amount of time someone can hold a position in it because there are at least two members who should retire because they have been part of it for over 20 years.
There’s no reason track and field can’t be our focus but it doesn’t mean we can’t also support other sports. There’s a good bit of money tied up in the BVIOC yet like most institutions here transparency on financial matters is not a priority. I’m sure the public would love to know what the committee is spending its money on.
Take the sport somewhere else. Some people like they never heard “NO” in their life. Respect the NO! Anything after that is TMI. Spoilt and bratty behaviour will not cut it. The sport is not part of our culture and the behaviour is even worst. Go and pray.
I think its a great idea, We can build a track from Sage mountain to cane garden. Ok no snow but we have the perfect incline to make an awsome track. We need to be thinking out side the box in the BVI.
Instead of criticizing the sport, and those who want to introduce it, why don’t we try and get our young people involved in it?
I think it’s a brilliant idea,in which our young people can participate in frid climate sports.
Why do we feel that because we’re in warmer weather climate, we can’t master frigid climate sports?
We tend to operate from a myopic point of view!
Let us get the yampee out of our eyes, and forge ahead, for the betterment of us all!
Mr. Nicholls with all due respect we can’t even get them to properly commit to track and field much less bobsledding. Do you see the condition of the track? No?
Sorry to burst your bubble.
Beware of international sheep in wolf clothing! Why should we traverse into this sport of bobsledding? We do not have snow in the BVI. Why would BVI Government who eventually will be a contributor to participants would contribute taxpayers monies to a sport that needs snow? Mr. Dave Nichols, you are out of line and out of place for your comments! I know how you international so call philanthropists operate. You go around to countries and spin your jargon and money, putting the people down and of course only ignorant people listen until you get a foothold in that country under the disguise of your philanthropy and until decades later the truth is revealed of your real intent. We do not want bobsledding here in the BVI as a sport. Why now and you know climate change is occurring and the scientists are saying that the atmosphere is heating up. We are okay with sports that use sunshine and warm weather – softball, basketball, track and field, sailing, soccer, volleyball, tennis, racket ball, and swimming. We love our Caribbean climate and DO NOT NEED SNOW! Go back to your philanthropists who are funding your sport and tell them to give you money to assist with the sports that we play in our Caribbean weather. How about that ! Hhhhhhmmmmm….. The question I have, why now! What are you up to!
Mr. Ephraim Penn is good right where he is until he decides to retire. We know who Mr. Penn is. Do we know who Mr. Nicholls really is? Who is funding his existence and his project? Hhhhmmmmm. Another project by an unknown person from elsewhere focusing on OUR CHILDREN at this time after 3 MAJOR MANMADE STORMS IN 2017 (A flood and 2 CAT 5 Hurricanes) followed by a multipurpose global pandemic causing unethical lockdowns and deadly vaccinations in 2020 and thereafter, an interesting *OI and now a sport not using our climate! Why? Question everything! Again, think people….hhhhmmmm. The focus on this country is coming from all angles.
His priorities are not mixed up. He has an agenda.
THE PROPAGANDA WIZARD IS LOOSED , AND HE IS BLOGGING UNDER DIFFERENT NAMES AND ON ALL THE OTHER SITES THAT HE CONDEMS DAILY , WHAT A PAPPY SHOW ,/ OUR PREMIER SAW THROUGH YOUR DISGUISE AND KICKED YO ASZ OUT OF THE HOA ANONG WITH YOUR PRECIOUS WIG ?
I totally agree. He is no more than a c** man.
Hey de man go back where you come from. With your BS.
We love track.
Go back where come from with your bull s**t fast
Get your white Ms from here with that. We have snow here.
Do you know how much that would cost? The purchase of that much land and building the actual track for it? Be realistic.
The member organisation has to be sustainable its not a case of catch them all. In deed swimming, cycling, triathlon need regional class participation or OC membership would be forfeited. $100k a year is not a lot, better to invest in making the current memberships sustainable . New sports have been added, archery, 3×3 basketball, its up to the Fed to prove they have trained world class belongers – which is not the case with bobsleigh
I did not hear him say that he moved here just for that purpose. There is nothing wrong with bringing a new sport to the country. He actually did meet with individuals and there is an interest in the sport. Here in the BVI we have to push for what we want and then go away and be recognized before our own to recognize us. There are other sports that had to push to be recognized by the OC before. There is no written publicized guidance from the OC as to what they need to see, so it is not difficult to understand what he went through. Those who know, know.