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Legislature of the Virgin Islands Finance Committee St Thomas, USVI, US Virgin Islands 00802 Dear Honorable Members of the Finance Committee: My office has submitted all the necessary reports and attachments. The Virgin Islands Olympic Committee conducted elections for its Executive Committee, as per its Bylaws and the International Olympic Committee’s recommendation, at the Annual Assembly on September 28, 2024. The following persons were elected as follows: Mr. John Abramson Jr., President, Mr. Ansen Sligar, Secretary General, Mr. Athneil Thomas, Vice President “St Thomas/St John”, Ms. Desiree Miranda, Vice President “St. Croix”, and Ms. Brigitte Berry, Treasurer. The VIOC thanks the Virgin Islands Government and the Legislative body for the appropriation we have received in the past. Annually, our member Federations submit a yearly plan with budgets that total over two million dollars. The VIOC is committed to supporting our athletes in their training and sending them to represent the Virgin Islands in International competitions. Government funds are critical for the VIOC to continue providing support to our 24 member Federations, as well as to our elite athletes. Our operating budget for the past two years has been over $ 1,000,000.00 per year. We must selectively approve funding requests for our member Federations. Our operations have increased, and we will increase our support staff for the next Fiscal Year. Therefore, we are requesting an appropriation of $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 from the Government of the Virgin Islands. Virgin Islands athletes have been training and competing in all sports activities in hopes of qualifying for the Pan American and Olympic Games. We have continued to financially support our elite athletes with training grants as they pursue their training to participate in qualifiers and ultimately compete in these major Games. We provide financial assistance to our Federations to support their athletes in competitions and training. Federations have also used VIOC support to send coaches for further training. We have athletes in Archery, Beach Volleyball, Bowling, Boxing, Fencing, Golf, Sailing, Swimming, Tennis, and Track & Field, as well as athletes in the team sports of Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball, and Volleyball receiving assistance. pg. 2 Virgin Islands Olympic Committee Fiscal Year 2025 Goals The Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (VIOC) is working to advance the Olympic Movement in the U.S. Virgin Islands by supporting athletes, strengthening national sports Federations, and promoting community engagement through sport. Below outlines the VIOC’s financial goals and priorities for the Fiscal Years 2025–2026, including major event participation, development funding, and strategic projects that reinforce the role of sport across the territory. Olympic Month In alignment with our mission to develop, provide, and protect the Olympic Movement through physical and educational programs that promote “Sport for All,” the VIOC celebrated this past June as Olympic Month. Activities included the Olympic Day Run on St. Thomas and St. Croix, along with events in cycling, volleyball, and basketball. These were organized in partnership with the national Federations. This past year, we expanded participation to include additional Federations and hosted an Olympic Fun Day to showcase our member federation and promote community engagement through sport on Magens Bay. VIOC Golf Tournament The VIOC Golf Tournament is our largest fundraising event, held annually at the Buccaneer Golf Course in St. Croix. With over 18-hole sponsors, the tournament typically raises more than $9,000. Unfortunately, we had to postpone the 2025 tournament due to the passing of one of our Golf tournament founders and a true Virgin Islands champion of promoting golf, Nevin Phillips, who passed away the week before the event. Nevin served as President of the Virgin Islands Golf Federation and was instrumental in the growth of the tournament and the sport of golf throughout the territory. Jr. Pan Am Games – August 9 to 24, 2025 The Jr. Pan Am Games are for athlete’s Under-21 and these Games will be held in Asunción, Paraguay. The VIOC will be taking a delegation of athletes and support staff in Fencing, Pool and Open Water Swimming, Tennis, Triathlon and Track & Field. Olympic Games - 2025 & 2026 The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Milan–Cortina from February 6 to 22. The VIOC plans to send a delegation that may include athletes competing in women’s alpine skiing (Downhill and Giant Slalom) and skeleton. Notably, Virgin Islands athlete Katie Tannenbaum represented the territory in skeleton at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The 2026 Youth Olympic Games will also take place in Dakar, Senegal, from pg. 3 October 31 to November 13. The VIOC aims to send a delegation of athletes and support staff to compete in archery, fencing, cycling, sailing, swimming, tennis, triathlon, track & field, and volleyball. CAC Beach Games - July 24 to August 8, 2026 The Central American and Caribbean Beach Games will be held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The VIOC plans to send athletes to compete in tennis, men’s and women’s beach volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, swimming, track & field and sailing. At the last edition of the Central American & Caribbean Games, Team Virgin Islands achieved historic success, earning gold medals in both archery and women’s basketball, a testament to the growing strength and talent of our national athletes. Federation Support Federation support remains our largest annual expense. We assist Federations in athlete identification, grassroots programming, clinics, training for officials and coaches, national events, team travel, and other initiatives. Each Federation is responsible for the development of its sport and plays a vital role in the Olympic Movement and sport development in the Virgin Islands. • For Fiscal Year 2023–2024 (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024), the VIOC provided $340,954 to Federations. • For the current fiscal year (October 1, 2024 – May 31, 2025), we have already provided $175,637.94. Many requests are still pending for senior and junior athlete development ahead of the CAC Games, Junior Pan Am Games, and Regional Championships. Elite Athlete Support Most of our elite athletes attend university in the United States, where they have access to top-tier coaching, training facilities, and competitive opportunities. However, balancing full-time academic or employment commitments with demanding training schedules can significantly impact their ability to train, recover, and perform at the highest level. This is why the VIOC offers its own VIOC Training Grants to support athletes with living, training, and coaching expenses. We strive to support as many athletes as possible, recognizing that financial assistance plays a critical role in helping them achieve their full potential and deliver the best possible results on the international stage. • Currently, the VIOC provides approximately $3,000 per month in direct Athlete Scholarships to our elite athletes qualified or qualifying for the Jr. Pan Am Games in Paraguay this summer, and the Milan Winter Games in Italy this Winter. VIOC Office To meet our obligations to the Federations, athletes, and international and local regulatory bodies—including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the Virgin Islands Government— pg. 4 the Virgin Islands Olympic Committee (VIOC) maintains a staffed office with two full-time employees, located on St. Thomas. The office serves as the administrative hub for all Olympic-related activities in the territory, ensuring timely coordination, compliance, and support across all programs. In addition to day-to-day operations, we invest in the professional development of our staff by providing training opportunities and facilitating their participation in international meetings, seminars, and workshops. These initiatives are designed to build capacity and enhance operational effectiveness through the use of IOC-developed tools for sports administration, financial reporting, athlete services, and governance. Through this commitment to continuous improvement and compliance, the VIOC ensures it remains a reliable and efficient resource for athletes, Federations, and partners both locally and internationally. Establish a Permanent VIOC Office - 2026 The VIOC is currently in the design and development stage of a new Multi- Sport Facility, which will house the permanent VIOC office and serve as a FEMA-approved shelter during emergencies. We have secured a $400,000 grant from Panam Sports to support this project. This is the same project previously presented to your body, and we sincerely thank you for all the support you have provided as we move forward with its development. All necessary documents have been submitted to FEMA and issues on an access road in times of disaster are currently being worked on with the assistance of VITEMA and VIHFA. Sincerely, John Abramson Jr. President Virgin Islands Olympic Committee