ATR First: Sporting World Impacted by Irma

(ATR) PanamSports President Neven Ilic tells Around the Rings the organization is working to contact Caribbean sport leaders affected by Hurricane Irma to assess the extent of the damage.

Irma continues to ravage Caribbean Islands as it heads for landfall at the tip of Florida in the United States. The storm has already ravaged the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, St. Martin, and the Virgin Islands. Local reports from Barbuda suggest nearly 95 percent of the island was destroyed by the storm.

The storm is continuing its path and will hit the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and the Turks and Caicos islands before making landfall.

ATR attempted to contact the NOCs in Antigua and the Virgin Islands unsuccessfully. Requests for comments from the British Olympic Association and the French National Olympic and Sports Committee regarding overseas territories were not returned.

"We are in contact with each of the [Caribbean] presidents by WhatsApp, we have a group," Ilic said to ATR. "We have to wait to understand what exactly the situation is. They are waiting for another hurricane that is coming. This is the situation, this is what I know.

"We have [PanamSports] money, Olympic Solidarity money. We are ready to help but the best idea is to wait and receive the report from each of the presidents. But we are ready to support."

Ilic says he will meet with other IOC leaders on the sidelines of the 2017 Session in Lima to discuss what can be done to help. PanamSports will also monitor the impact Irma will have on its new offices set to open in Miami, Florida.

For Brian Lewis, President of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees, the devastation from Irma and the anticipation of Hurricane Jose is "unimaginable". He told ATR that the sporting world already has seen one casualty, Dag Samuels, "a popular track coach" from the British Virgin Islands.

"It requires a Herculean effort and collaboration at all levels to assist those countries and communities affected," Lewis said to ATR. "I have personally contacted Secretary General of [PanamSports] and CEO of the Commonwealth Games Federation, with a view to identifying how best the Olympic and Commonwealth Sport movement can assist.

"The scale of the damage in some of the smaller islands is devastating and will take years to rebuild. Sport will certainly be negatively impacted and it is an aspect that CANOC will pay attention to."

Lewis says the region will welcome the help of European countries with overseas territories in the Caribbean, but fears the worst on some of the smaller independent islands. He singled out the situation in Antigua and Barbuda for its direness.

"The loss of property and infrastructure," Lewis said. "It is devastating and catastrophic."

The islands of Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius and Saba also suffered heavy damages from the storm. Territories of the Netherlands, King William Alexander will visit the islands when he arrives in Curaçao Sunday. The King is an honorary IOC member after serving a stint as IOC member before ascending to the Dutch throne.

Meanwhile in the United States, organizers for the 2017 World Rowing Championships are anticipating the storm and adjusting preparations. The championships are scheduled for Sept. 24-Oct. 1, and organizers expect strong winds in the area for the next 3-4 days. As of now models for the hurricane say it likely will not hit the Sarasota-Bradenton area directly, but surrounding areas have mandatory evacuations in effect.

"The venue buildout schedule has been adjusted to reflect the weather forecasts and all planning for the World Rowing Championships is on schedule," a local organizing committee spokesperson said in a statement to ATR. "The Manager of Athlete Services is in constant contact with Team Managers from each team, providing weather updates and any possible changes in their arrival schedules.

"Our focus at this time is on the staff, community and all those potentially impacted by Hurricane Irma."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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