Local squash legend receives IOC award at Olympic Centre Opening

Natalie receives award from IOC President, Rogge

At the lavish official opening of the Barbados Olympic Association’s Olympic Centre building on March 18, 2008 the 11-time former National Squash Champion, Mrs. Natalie Small (n?e Webber) was presented with the prestigious IOC Sport and Promotion of Olympism Trophy by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Dr. Jacques Rogge.

The audience of over 300 invited guests included six IOC Members; the newly appoined Barbados Minister of Family, Youth Affairs, Sports and the Environment the Hon. Dr. Esther Byer-Suckoo; BOA President Steve Stoute and the other members of the BOA Executive Committee; repesentatives from the Executive Committees of most of the National Olympic Committees in the Caribbean; as well as representatives from the majority of the 31 local National Sports Federations affiliated to the BOA.

The IOC trophy was presented in recognition of Natalie’s sterling contribution to the development of the administration of the BOA and her promotion of the values of Olympism during her tenure working at the BOA between 1997 and 2005.

As a player, before she established her career as a sports administrator, Natalie reached 13 consecutive national squash finals between 1984 and 1996 and won 11 of them, making her the most successful squash player Barbados has produced to date. The BSRA offers Natalie its heartiest congratulations!