Saint Lucia is all set for a historic celebration as Olympic champion Julien Alfred is anticipated to return to her homeland on September 24. The government has announced an update to honour her. The government has decided on the declaration of a national holiday on September 27, to be known as “Julien Alfred Day.”
Alfred is scheduled to arrive in Saint Lucia on September 24 and will make her first visit since the phenomenal achievement of winning gold in the 100 meters and silver in the 200 meters in the Olympic Games.
This announcement to honour Alfred was made by Prime Minister Philip J Pierre during a September 9 pre-cabinet meeting. She is regarded as a national hero for winning the country’s first-ever Olympic medals.”We are proud to declare September 27 as Julien Alfred Day,” said Prime Minister Pierre,emphasizing on the immense pride and joy Alfred’s achievements have brought to the country.
After her historic Olympic Games success, Julien Alfred has been rewarded with a national honour from the Saint Lucia government for her performance in Paris. Alfred stunned Richardson to the women’s 100m title in Paris, making it to the finish line in a new personal best of 10.72s. Her exceptional win made her Saint Lucia’s first Olympic gold medallist in history.
The 23-year-old claimed the silver medal in the 200m event behind Gabby Thomas. She exited the Paris Olympics, leaving with two medals, that too in her Olympic debut.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Dr Uralice Delaire, provided further details on the upcoming festivities. This includes a motorcade from Vieux Fort to Gros Islet, school rallies, and a grand concert at the Daren Sammy Cricket Grounds. “When she arrives, we have a small opening ceremony at the airport with cabinet members and the Olympic committee present. It will be a fitting welcome for our champion,” said Delaire.
On September 25, the school rally will be giving students from across the island a chance to see their idol and showcase their talents. The rallies will take place at the Soufriere Mini Stadium and the La Resource Playing Field, offering the next generation of athletes the opportunity to connect with their inspiration.
As part of her mission, Alfred has outlined her plans to launch the Julien Alfred Foundation on Saturday, a platform that will provide opportunities and support to the youth.
“I think it would be a good idea to give back to the youth, just doing things that I wish I had at a young age, to help them grow in the sport or whatever they want to do,” she told Sportsmax TV.
