John A Cumber Primary School students filled the auditorium in West Bay Thursday morning to welcome MLAs and local CARIFTA athletes, who encouraged them to remain focused and live out their full potential.

Former CARIFTA athlete and Caymanian Olympian Ronald Forbes told the youngsters to consider getting involved in sports saying: “Your future starts now. Sports is a very important thing in your life and it can take you many places you never thought possible.”

Forbes also represented the Cayman Islands at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and also in the 110 metres hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was also Cayman’s flag-bearer during the opening ceremonies in China.

“It took five attempts at the CARIFTA Games before I got one medal,” he said. “Great things are possible if you keep at it and remained focused”

Forbes added that he would his accomplish the goal of his visit to the Cumber school if even one primary student could later look back and say thank you for the advice you gave me 10 or 15 years ago, and for inspiring me to never give up.

Cline Glidden Jr, Deputy Speaker and MLA for West Bay believes that Forbes is already inspiring Cumber students to reach new heights.

 “Ronald was a role model for my son.” Glidden explained that his son, Cline Jr. was doing a project and needed to speak to an Olympian and Forbes helped him by providing the information he needed to complete his project through a YouTube video.

“Ronald recognizes the need as a world class athlete to be a leading example for all of you here today.”

The 2010 local CARIFTA athletes in attendance were Melinda Mclean, Shanique Yen, Troy Long, Edmund Swaby, Renaldo Kelly-Vernon, Lloyd Barker, Philip Ritch and Dmitri Chambers.

 “Come out and celebrate the upcoming CARIFTA Games. Bring you horns and wear your dark blue shirts and support our athletes,” said Shanique Yen.

Lloyd Barker said: “Push for anything you want to do in life, work hard and be dedicated. Be positive, stay focused and always do the right thing.”

Harcourt Wason is one of the key organisers for the 2010 CARIFTA Games. He is also a teacher at John A Cumber Primary School and a former CARIFTA athlete and Olympian.

He encouraged the athletes to do their best and explained that the 2010 CARIFTA Games is important because it serves as a qualifying meet for the first ever-junior Olympic games in Singapore August 2010.

MLA Captain Eugene Ebanks said: “There is tremendous potential in every one of you here. Always follow your dreams and never give up.”

Captain Eugene explained that as primary school student he was fascinated with airplanes and dreamed of becoming a pilot one-day. “I realized my dream by going to flight school and became a commercial pilot, and flew for many years with Cayman Airways, earning the rank of captain.”

“Don’t lose sight of your goals and stay away from drugs. Train hard and hopefully some of you will represent the Cayman Islands in future CARIFTA Games.