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RED CARPET TREATMENT
Here’s to you! World champion hurdler Ryan Brathwaite (centre) is flanked by James Burdess (left), sales and marketing director of Moonshine Ridge Barbados, and Hugh Anthony Arthur, High Commissioner for Barbados in Britain, at the reception in Mayfair, London. (PR)
Published on: 9/17/2009.
WHILE IT ONLY TOOK him 13.14 seconds to win the hearts of Barbadians home and abroad, it will take hours today for Barbados to pay tribute to gold medal hurdler Ryan Brathwaite.
Brathwaite returns home this afternoon and will be met by spectacular celebrations the minute he arrives at the Grantley Adam International Airport en route to Kensington Oval via motorcade for an official Government ceremony.
After his expected arrival time at 1:45 p.m., Brathwaite will be ushered into a reception in the VIP Lounge.
An hour later his motorcade rolls off at 2:45 p.m. from the airport to Oistins and along the South Coast, into Bridgetown and onto Kensington Oval for the big ceremony that starts at 4:45 p.m.
The 21-year-old Brathwaite will be showered with gifts from the Government and corporate Barbados. There will also be presentations from Brathwaite's two schools, Lawrence T. Gay and Lester Vaughan.
Prime Minister David Thompson will deliver the feature address, while there will be messages from Senator Sandiford-Garner and Brathwaite's former principals.
Other messages will be from the 13:14 Gold Committee from Hillaby, the Barbados Olympic Association, the Amateur Athletics Association, and the National Sports Council.
Up to yesterday evening, special events co-ordinator in the Prime Minister's Office, Cranston Browne, was conducting a final "walk-through" with security officials while the stage, lighting and the protective cover for the Kensington playing field had all been installed completely.
Weather permitting, hundreds are expected to line the South Coast at key points such as Oistins, Rendezvous, Hastings, the Garrison, Bay Street, Bridgetown, Princess Alice Highway and Fontabelle.
The weather forecast for today is: partly cloudy to occasionally cloudy with scattered showers.
Celebrations are also expected to go long into the night in Brathwaite's hometown Hillaby, St Andrew, where a big screen will replay his 110-metre hurdle victory in Berlin, Germany, last month and a mural will also be unveiled on a wall at the corner of Church Gap, where Brathwaite lives.
On Sunday, an interdenominational thanksgiving service will be held in his honour at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre from 3 p.m. and buses will leave Turners Hall, Hillaby, Farmers and Whitehall promptly at 1:45 p.m. to transport people who don't have vehicles, and wish to attend the service.
12 comment found!
hillaby daughter : 9/17/2009
congrats ryan,never personally met you but my family has.can't wait to see the the wall on church gap corner that don has done,next time i come home.keep your head up.
Congrats Ryan. : 9/17/2009
We the Barbadian community in Montreal are very proud of you my friend.Just stay focus and let the Almighty God continue to direct your path.Los more to come on the track. Collin C.
Congratulations Ryan : 9/17/2009
Congratulations to Ryan! Barbados is Proud! So happy to see how Barbados have come together to honour and recognize those who have worked so hard to put Barbados on the map. Thank you Barbados!
Congrats : 9/17/2009
Wish I could be there to be a part of the celebrations in person, but I sure will be there in spirit. I wish the young man many more blessings and success in the future...stay focused and humble. You have made Bajans all over the world very proud!
MIA Bajan : 9/17/2009
I have known Ryan for years and he is just as humble now as he always was. His family is so proud of him it is insane!
Congratulations : 9/17/2009
Congratulations to Mr Ryan Brathwaite and family, wishing you all the best. From M Braithwaite
RYAN YOU MADE US ALL VERY PROUD : 9/17/2009
Ryan you have made Barbadians all over the world very proud.I think whatever the Government and people of Barbados are doing to honour you, on your return to Barbados is being done with a lot of love. May the Great Architect of The Universe be always with you. May he give you good helth, wisdom, knowledgeand the strength to win a GOLD MEDAL at the next OLYMPIC GAMES. I am sorry I can not be in Barbados to celebrate this great celebration. Ryan keep focus and give praises to God at all times.
Blessings : 9/17/2009
It was a privilege to meet Ryan Brathwaite at the Mayfair reception, and congratulate him as a proud ST ANDREW Barbadian living in the UK. May God continue to bless him and I pray he keeps the humility he displayed at yesterday's event.
Well done : 9/17/2009
Congratulations Ryan on this fabulous occasion. Hope that you continue to let your light shine wherever you go..... From a former St.Andrew athlete..
A Barbadian Son! : 9/17/2009
It was pure joy to attend the High Commissioner's reception in London on Wednesday night, in honour of the world's fastest hurdler, Ryan Brathwaite. The venue was packed with Bajans, who showered praises and adulation on the Gold Medalist. Ryan himself, exhibited calmness, humility, graciousness and is a credit to the ones who bore and raised him, his schools' input, early environment, his island home,coach/ trainers, advisers and himself. The schoolchildren present, would have seen at first hand, a future role model. Jerry Hall, Sutton, Surrey
A Barbadian Son! : 9/17/2009
It was pure joy to attend the High Commissioner's reception in London on Wednesday night, in honour of the world's fastest hurdler, Ryan Brathwaite. The venue was packed with Bajans, who showered praises and adulation on the Gold Medalist. Ryan himself, exhibited calmness, humility, graciousness and is a credit to the ones who bore and raised him, his schools' input, early environment, his island home,coach/ trainers, advisers and himself. The schoolchildren present, would have seen at first hand, a future role model.
: 9/17/2009
So long as Ryan gets that luxury vehicle that I asked corporate Barbados to match sir Charles generosity with, its all right with me !
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