The sporting community has joined with the rest of Barbados in mourning the late Prime Minister David Thompson, and as a mark of respect, play has been suspended in various sports.
Yesterday, sports administrators remembered Thompson as a friend of sports.
Steve Stoute, president of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA), said the former PM was an avid supporter of their projects.
“This is a tragic loss to our country and we deeply regret his passing,” Stoute told SUNSPORT.
“Mr Thompson was a staunch supporter of the Olympic movement.
“He visited the Olympic Centre and was very impressed with the set-up there and the work we were doing in Barbados. He pledged his full support for our projects and programmes.
“On behalf of the Barbados Olympic movement, we express sincere condolences to the country and to the family of our late Prime Minister.”
Chairman of the National Sports Council, Seibert Straughn, expressed sympathies on behalf of that organisation.
“It is with deep sadness and regret that we have learnt of the passing of the Honorable David Thompson, Prime Minister of our beloved country.
“Mr Thompson has truly served Barbados and indeed the wider Caribbean with distinction.
“As an avid sports fan and an ardent promoter of the value of investment in youth, Mr Thompson has given much support over the years to the furtherance of our sports and cultural industries,” he said in a statement.
“The chairman, board, management and staff of the National Sports Council and the sporting organsations in Barbados are very grateful for the support which his Government has given, as they have sought to improve both our human and physical sports capital.”
Yesterday, the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) was among the first to pull stumps, postponing matches in the local league competition, and the Barbados Cricket League (BCL) followed suit.
The BCA will make an announcement with respect to the fixtures, but the ninth series of matches in the BCL Competition will be completed on Saturday. Matches in the knockout will be played on November 6, while the final of the CO Williams Mitchie Hewitt Knockout Competition will be played on November 7.
Today’s matches in the St Peter Ah Come From Independence Football Tournament have been postponed, but the Barbados Volleyball Association will resume the Division One Competition at the Wildey Gymnasium after postponing yesterday’s matches. (SAT)