Ishona Charles, a member of the 2021 Grenada Paralympic team in Tokyo, and Tyler Smith, a student at J W Fletcher Secondary School and bronze medallist at the 2022 Commonwealth Junior Games, will represent Grenada at the 28 August–8 September 2024 Paralympic Games in France.
The Grenada Paralympic Committee held a ceremony on Tuesday, 23 July, in the Conference Room of the Olympic House to officially announce the team for Paris 2024. It was attended by Senator Johnathan La Crette, Minister for Youth and Sports, and members of the Grenada Olympic Committee, Director Ralph Lord, Ministry of Education personnel, Jerry Alexis, national sports federations, and the Athlete Commission.
Charles will compete in the F46 javelin and F46 shot putt, while Smith will compete in the F63 shot putt. Both are determined to make an impression at the games. They will be accompanied by team representatives, head of mission Alvin Clouden, and coach Bassanio Nicholas.
Minister La Crette commended the athletes on their selection and urged them to pursue the journey with confidence. He assured them that his government, cabinet colleagues, Grenadians, and especially his ministry fully support them and the Paralympics and eagerly anticipate collaborating with all associations to attain even greater success.
The Paralympics Committee expressed satisfaction that Grenada will be represented at the games for the second time, and thanked the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Lottery, and the Olympic Committee for their assistance.
President of the Committee Ray Roberts believes it’s a positive message and is challenging para-athletes, particularly boys and girls in schools to get active and participate in para-sports.
Guest Speaker Michelle Brathwaite, principal of the School for the Deaf and President of Advocacy Grenada, commended the growth of the Paralympics in Grenada, noting that it is a vehicle for inclusiveness in sports. She encouraged parents and family members to support physically challenged boys and girls, emphasising the range of paralympic activities available to them.
Brathwaite also called on the business community and national sports associations to give greater support to para-sports. She said the Paralympics must not be seen as second-class. She urged all to make a conscious effort to support the development of para-sports and is confident that world champions like Kirani James, Anderson Peters, and Lindon Victor will emerge. Presentations of appreciation were made to the Grenada National Council for the Disabled and Advocacy Grenada for their efforts in promoting parasports.
The Paris Paralympic Games will feature athletes from more than 180 nations competing in 28 different disciplines. The event is an international multi-sports competition for the world’s best athletes with physical disabilities.
Grenada Paralympic Committee
