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For many years the Barbados Olympic Association had been planning to host a function to honour all Barbadians who had participated in the Olympic Games since Barbados first made its appearance as an individual nation in Mexico City in 1968.
This gala event finally took place on November 14th 2001 at the Sherbourne Conference Centre in the presence of the Governor General of Barbados Sir Clifford Husbands, Prime Minister of Barbados The Rt. Honourable Owen Arthur, Minister of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport Rudolph Greenidge, IOC Member Austin Sealy, BOA President Steve Stoute, Secretary General Erskine Simmons, other Members of the BOA Executive Council, National Sports Council Representatives, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, National Federation Representatives and ninety Olympians or their representatives.
It was a night of nostalgia for many of the athletes, especially those who had come in from overseas, who had not seen other athletes for many years.
After speeches by the NOC President, IOC Member and Minister of Education, Youth Affairs and Sport, each Olympian was presented with a lapel pin dated with the year they competed in the Games. Prime Minister Owen Arthur and Minister of Sports Rudolph Greenidge presented the pins.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Olympic Bronze Medallist Lapel Pin to Sydney 2000 Medallist Ambassador Obadele Thompson by Governor General Sir Clifford Husbands. Obadele Thompson became the first Barbadian to win an individual Olympic medal when he placed third in the 100m event in Sydney.
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