World Sprint Legend and the fastest Man over the age of 35 in history will be the focal point of a special ceremony being staged at the CARIFTA 44 Games in Basseterre, St.Kitts.
Hon. Shawn K Richards Deputy Prime Minister of St.KiKim Collinstts-Nevis and Minister of Sports announced on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 44th CARIFTA Games that Collins will be recognized and honoured during a special ceremony to be held on Sunday April 5th at 3pm at the games being held now at the Silver Jubilee Stadium. The highlight of the Ceremony will be the official renaming of the stadium in honor of the World Champion and multi-time World and Indoor Championship medalist. The stadium will be renamed the KIM COLLINS National Athletic Stadium.
The stadium which was opened in 2008 played host to the CARIFTA GAMES held that year. The Stadium was named the Silver Jubilee Stadium whilst a stand in the Stadium was named the Kim Collins Stand. This created an uproar as the country felt that the new stadium should bare his name at the very least. Many have blamed political machinations as the reason for what most saw as a slight of Collins in the naming of the facility.
The renaming of the Athletic facility on Sunday will no doubt be seen as a correcting of a wrong and will no doubt be welcomed by every citizen of St.Kitts-Nevis.
Kim Collins is the most well known national of St.Kitts-Nevis. His phenomenal career as a world class athlete has made him a household name internationally. From China to Russia, from Canada to Iran from Taiwan to Angola Kim Collins is known, regarded, respected and loved.
His International Career began in 1996 with his first of 5 appearances at the Olympic Games. He made it to the Quarter Finals . In 2000 in Syndney in just his second appearance he became the first OECS National representing an OECS country to run in an Olympic Finals in the 100m. The following year he raced to glory with a memorable victory at the Commonwealth Games of 2001 and then two years later his historic World Championship Victory in Paris, France.
Some 19 years after making his first International Appearance Kim Collins remains at the top of World Sprint Athletics. He is currently the Number 1 ranked Sprinter in the world over 60m having not lost a race for the entire 2015 season. He holds the World’s record for the fastest time ever ran by an athlete over 35 with his Masters Record 9.98 seconds run in 2014 at age 38.
Without a doubt Kim Collins is a Living Legend and a role model to children throughout the world.
The Renaming Ceremony will take place on Sunday April 5th at 3pm . Remarks will be made by a number of local and international officials and dignitaries including Prime Minister Hon Dr. Timothy Harris as well as brief comments from Kim himself.