On April 6, the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc. handed over cheques totaling EC$59,838.29 to five member associations.

During a handover ceremony held at Olympic House, Alfred Emmanuel, President of SLOC Inc, presented cheques to the following representatives in attendance who received on their associations’ behalf:
 

• Cyril Mangal, President of the Saint Lucia Cycling Association, received a cheque for EC$13,330 for the Association’s training of local cyclists in Martinique. Mangal also received another cheque for EC$5,736.76 towards the hosting of that Association’s National Championships later this year.​
• Shannon Lebourne, Public Relations Officer of the Saint Lucia Boxing Association, received a cheque for EC$13,350 towards Saint Lucia’s hosting of the Champion of Champions Boxing Tournament from April 13 - 14, 2024, and another cheque EC$5,000 for the SLBA’s administrative grant.
• Evastus Augustin, Assistant General Secretary of the Saint Lucia Football Association, received a cheque for EC$5,000 for the SLFA’s administrative grant.
• Adrian Albert, Treasurer of the Saint Lucia National Table Tennis Association, received a cheque for EC$12,421.53 towards De Andre Calderon’s participation in an Olympic Qualifier in Lima, Peru, from April 14-18, 2024.
• Harith Khan, Team Captain of the Saint Lucia Golf Association, received a cheque for EC$5,000 towards the Grow Well Inc. programme which assists under privileged children in Gros Islet play golf.

The handover ceremony was held immediately following the official launch ceremony of the Julien Alfred Foundation, which was hosted at the same venue by the Saint Lucia Athletics Association (SLAA). He said creating champion athletes takes a collective effort, and called for more tangible support for local sports federations and athletes.

“We sincerely hope that the organizations and individuals who were so elated yesterday (Friday) in welcoming home the world champion will see the need to dig deep into their pockets and provide the necessary resources -- financial and otherwise -- for us to be able to produce more champions,” said Emmanuel.

He added: “Commitment is not only by parading and talking; commitment is by deeds and action. The deeds and actions can only be backed by what is needed to get the job done, and that is a serious financial commitment. The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee knows what it takes to produce a champion, and we’re continuing with our efforts to produce lots more champions.”

In closing, Emmanuel encouraged the members who received funding to continue working hard to raise the bar, so that the end results can be creating more champions at the world-class level.

“Today is a wonderful day,” Emmanuel told members. “Today is a day when everybody is in town because of the world champion. Let’s hope that the members gathered here today would take note of that fact, return to your bases, and dig deep, because I have no doubt in my mind that your associations can produce a champion.”