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SALUTE
TO OLYMPIANS 1968 - 2000
 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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