Police cop overall title
Bermuda Police Service claimed an impressive 42 medals to become the most successful team at the Island’s inaugural Corporate Games.Displaying their sporting prowess across a range of disciplines, the Bermuda Police also won the Division Five title for companies represented by more than 50 athletes.The company represented by the most athletes, though, was Argus Group who certainly made the most noise at last night’s Awards Ceremony at the Super Centre Games Village on Front Street.Argus were also crowned team champions in the basketball 3s, football, swimming and tennis, while KPMG claimed victories in running and squash and Belco in golf.Almost 1,500 athletes from more than 80 companies competed in 15 sports and 111 events, with 717 medals awarded during the three-day Games the first to held in the Atlantic region.And despite the stormy weather, more than 1,000 athletes braved the wet and windy conditions to take part in Saturday night’s Games Parade on Front Street.At 76, Quinton Mallory was the oldest athlete, competing for Strike Back in the ten pin bowling, while 14-year-old sailor Kieron Swan from Bermuda Pest Control the youngest to take part.Charmaine Burgess, spokesperson for the Games, said the event had been a great edition to Bermuda’s 2012 sporting calendar and praised the athletes for their camaraderie.“Teams like Argus have really empitomised what the Games are all about and we’re thrilled the results it was an A1 event.”Suzie Pewter, president of the Bermuda Corporate Games, said she was thrilled with the turn-out of the athletes but disappointment that the weather conditions were not better.Yesterday morning’s triathlon was cancelled due to safety concerns surrounding Hurricane Sandy moving to the west of the Island.“The competition has been outstanding, we never expected this many athletes to turn out,” she said. “Our expectations were about 1,000, so to hit 1,500 is just outstanding.“I’m very proud of Bermuda for coming out and supporting the Games. We had every diversity of persons and age of people participating in this event. The weather didn’t quite cooperate, but just imagine if it had.”Pewter said she hoped the event could return to the Island in the future.“I know the Government ministers were very proud and actually mentioned that they would like (the Games) back in Bermuda. It will only return if Bermuda wants it, but I would love to be able bring it back to Bermuda.”For the past 25 years, over a million participants, whose 20,000 companies have supported them, have taken part in the Corporate Games on five continents, 25 countries and 53 cities.The first edition of the Games was held in San Francisco in 1988, followed by events in Concord, California and Hawaii. In 1993, the Games were staged for the first time outside of the US, in Sydney, Australia.Sponsors of the event include the Department of Tourism, Catlin, XL and the Whitfield Group.* For hundreds of pictures of the games see our photo gallery section on www.royalgazette.comTeam AwardsBadminton: Bermuda Badminton AssociationBasketball 3s: ArgusBeach Volleyball: FIL LimitedGolf: BelcoHockey: Bermuda Police ServiceNetball: Butterfield BankRunning: KPMGSailing: Validus GroupFootball: ArgusSoftball: KeyTechSquash: KPMGSwimming: ArgusTennis: ArgusTen pin bowling: Strike BackTriathlon (cancelled)Divisional AwardsDivision Five (more than 50 athletes)Winners: Bermuda Police ServiceDivision Four (21 to 50 athletes)Winners: Alterra LimitedDivision Three (11 to 20 athletes)Winners: Butterfield BankDivision Two (six to 10 athletes)Winners: Bermuda Badminton AssociationDivision One (one to five athletes)Winners: Strike BackMedal AwardWinners: Bermuda Police Service (42 medals)Sport for Life AwardArgus (88 athletes)