The Dominica Olympic Committee (DOC) is not confirming just yet whether Dominica will be represented at the 2014 Winter Olympics which will be held in Sochi, Russia from February 7 – 27.
A NBC sports website in the US has reported that Gary di Silvestri, a 46-year-old originally from Staten Island, N.Y., and his wife, Angelica Morrone di Silvestri, 48, born and raised in Italy, will represent Dominica at the games.
However, secretary general of the DOC, Thomas Dorsett, told Dominica News Online on Friday morning that they were still awaiting accreditation from the organizers for Dominica’s participants and expect to have definite confirmation by Tuesday next week.
If it materializes , this will be the first time ever that Dominica is being represented at the Winter Olympics.
The NBC sports website quotes Dorsett as saying “it will be an historic (moment)” and added, “our tourism department will make a field day of that.”
The Silvestris now live and train in Canmore, Canada, home of the Nordic skiing events at the 1988 Olympics.
According to the website, they first visited Dominica on holiday six or seven years ago. They have done philanthropic work, mostly in other Caribbean countries, funding children’s hospitals in needy areas. They had a friend at the nation’s Ross University School of Medicine, and it’s become a home when they’re not training.
They are quoted as saying that Dominica offered them citizenship as a thank you for the charitable work.
“It was kind of given to us,” Di Silvestri said. “It was nothing.”
In November 2012, the International Olympic Committee asked Dominica, among other nations, if it had any athletes it was considering for the Sochi Olympics, Di Silvestri said. There were few options.
“They knew us, called us and said, ‘Guys, we want you to represent Dominica if you think you can qualify,’” Di Silvestri said. “At first we were hesitant, going from a hobby to a full-time commitment. We said, ‘What the hell. It’s an opportunity. We’ll take it.’”
Di Silvestri began the process by starting the Dominica Ski Federation from scratch, using a constitution template given to them by the International Ski Federation.
“I’m not exactly a spring chicken,” said Morrone di Silvestri, who skied on the Italian Alps as a child. “Can we do it?”
They were officially eligible beginning this season, and they furiously attempted to qualify entering lower-level skiing competitions Australia/New Zealand Cup, U.S. Super Tour, Nor-Am Cup and FIS races, finishing from 10th to 78th place.
They admitted that they were intimidated at first, but Di Silvestri qualified in December, and his wife did so last week in her last-chance race.
“One broken pole or a broken ski would have been the end of it,” Di Silvestri said.
They’re still finalizing travel arrangements but are confident they will be in Sochi and march in the Opening Ceremony. Di Silvestri will carry the flag, the article states.
They’ll compete on back-to-back days. The women’s 10km cross-country race is Feb .13, followed by the men’s 15km on Feb. 14. They’re going in with experienced mindsets, having already ordered Dominica pins to trade.
“Our coach said that’s going to be a hot commodity,” Di Silvestri said. “So we’re having them made up. They’re going to trade like currency, good as gold.
Di Silvestri was a two-time state wrestling champion at Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island. His wrestling career ended after a serious vehicular accident. He spent two days in a coma and two weeks in a hospital but escaped without permanent injury.
Di Silvestri rowed for a national championship team at Georgetown, where he was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist. He spent a year in Italy, where he met his his wife who was a student at Rome University. They were married in 1990.
Upon graduating, he became a Wall Street financial analyst, spent about five years in New York and four years in London before he and his wife returned to the U.S. to run his own company, Deutsche Suisse. In their free time, they skied.
“We had started cross-country skiing maybe 15 years ago, at a very leisurely level, and then as we became more proficient, we loved it,” Morrone di Silvestri said. “We started training and looking for opportunities to race and improve our technique. It’s been a passion for many years now.”
I hate when the diaspora come and want to criticise “seemingly ignorant” Dominicans! Alu went oversees and learnt soooo much! Alu shoulda come down and share, instead of now finding the comments are so ridiculous that you would give up your citizenship!
Go ahead we don’t need people like you if that’s the case.
your really stupid
These people are doing a lot more for Dominica than the ones who bought their citizenship. Please stop being so ungrateful.
My 2 cents!!
That’s it mammy keep up the good work, whatever you say is always makes sense and may the good Lord continue to guide protect and direct you.
From your good friend Vado
Thank you Sister Vado, You continue to be a pillar of strength for my family and you and I share in common our love for the PM.
PS When are you returning to Dominica?
I’ll be cheering you guys, Good Luck and God Speed, his guidance and protection on you both. Winter Olympics here I come. I’m hoping that they will train some young Dominicans who are interested to ski as well.
Mammy afos you not easy
but its the truth
All you Dominican’s are too not good! These people are giving their time and money to Represent little Dominica on the World Stage. Is because they are white? If so you Dominicans should be ashamed of yourselves criticizing people who are attempting to do good for Dominica. Mr & Mrs Di Silvestri may God guide protect and direct you and may you achieve great things for the country you chose to represent DOMINICA!
Yessah DA your potway soti!
poppyshow dat dere wi
all these people talking do they know the amount of dominicans have citizenship in other countries usa, canada, europe,china,trini, all over the caribbean,even the pm born and raised in dominica have french citizenship nothing for someone else to have dominican citizenship this blue passport cant take us anywhere.
thanks to these two persons the di silvestri for taking up and considering themselves as dominicans to represent us at a big event for the first time might never know how far they reach i wish them the best we should be greatful. practising so hard to make it i hope they dont let the negative comments discourage them if they place no matter where they were born they are representing dominica this will be a plus for us
We have enough negative people in Dominica. If a stranger is doing anything to uplift DOMINICA, I’m all for it. I am a Dominican, but most people who have helped me personally, are total strangers. My people always discourage me. Go Dominica Go. They could give them Citizenship, because a lot of us are in other countries, and these other countries gave us Citizenship, and we appreciate that.
Anything to Put Dominica on the map, for us not to be confused wit Dominica Republic, am all for it. We Dominicans don’t appreciate what we have, and we have too much too much pettiness among us. We never miss the water till the well gone dry. If Criminals can get Citizenship, why not someone who cares about Dominica and appreciate our country.
No snow in Jamaica but I recall the first time the Jamaicans entered the winter Olympics with a bobsledding team. How exciting it was just watching them.
What excites me of this bit of news is that the couple seem willing to promote Dominica in a good light in contrast to the traveling UWP Team who say they want to be our country’s government and is going around not promoting Dominica in a good way but is trying their best to give our country and her people a bad name globally.
I wonder if they realize that if Dominica is blacklisted, they will not be immune to the bad name caused only by them.
Lighten up, my fellow Dominicans. This could be the script for a new “Cool Runnings” movie. This time with Dominicans rather than Jamaicans.
Hold on a minute….I am confused. Can’t say nor ask anything
What’s in for them ? Are they receiving funding from the DOC in order to represent Dominica ? Being Dominican is starting to loose its meaning. Any foreign dog and cat can be Dominican and create ‘history’ while true Dominicans settle for second class.
Well, I guess DA is taking the lead as we try to make this world a place with no borders. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all were just world citizens with the right to choose where we live, vote, represent etc.?
We don’t need snow to be in the winter Olympics. Remember the Jamaican Bobsled team?
YES YES YES.. we Dominican are ungrateful. when we go overs we get citizenship we make vary put it on face book commit crimes go to Dominica and cut style at the airport showing off PASPORT..do nothing for ourselves or country yet we boast. when others are given citizenship for their contribution to us we get MAD?…..I am backing them up 110%…
UNEDUCATED AND UNINFORMED (SOME).. We have others promoting us yet we try to break us…..? Dominica is so NICE…to others, but some of its people are so DAMME BAD…and ignorant…
My one hot button,is we like to say what we want to say,Dominica was a place with positive energy even though we had our challenges in the 70’s and 80’s,we always had our Political devide yet we agree to disagree;but today,i understand why some intelegent people afraid to speak in this country,far too much ‘maypwee’,we waste alot of energy being negative,and we wander why we so bitter.Anyway i wish these people would win at least one event,this is the bridge we are crossing now,i would like to see the comments.We have to be real,America give talented athletes citizenship so they could represent USA, that’s what make them competetive in sports.Also alot of countries are using Black Athletes to represent them in sports,how you thing they do that,by giving them Citizenship,So let’s wish them well.
i can smell the fish. waiting for the backlash
I remember a man from Kenya taking part in the winter Olympics in 1998 in the cross country ski race.His name is Philip Boit a born Kenyan. Kenya has some snow on Mt. Kilimanjaro but this athlete trained in Finland. He came last by a wide margin but he finished and earned a lot of respect from everybody.
Well we have citizenships for sale on the shelf like bars of chocolate in the supermarket and they give these good people a free sample. They are advertising for us but I hope they do not mistake them for citizens of Santo Domingo instead, especially with a name like that.
On citizenship
“It was kind of given to us, it was nothing”
What does that say about Dominica and its policians?
Will citizenships be handed to cruise ship visitors for coming to Dominica? Worrying
I am pleased to know that they will be representing Dominica. They had to qualify for the Olympics to participate. Let us wish them well.
I must inform every Dominican I know, i.e., those who do not yet know about them. I know someone who is an avid TV sports lover whom I will inform about them. We will be taking a special interest in the Olympics. We will be vying for you. Please bring home a silver, gold or bronze medal or all three if you can.
Thank you for participating for Dominica and putting Dominica on the map and making it well-known, even in the USA with CNN and other TV and Radio Stations as well as the newspapers. You must love our country and nationals. What better world-wide publicity is there? Good luck to both of you.
God bless you and be with you on the ski slopes and while in Russia. When you take the trip, safe flight too, to and from.
Garcon, We have jokes in Dominica? Please DNO let me know when the we have 15 to 25 cm of fresh snow on morne Diablotin, cause I am going skiing, I hope it is not an avalanche prone area.
I will give you thumbs up for that.
South City, I take it you are from Grand Bay. There is a group of people in Ontario, originally from Grand Bay who use this name. Tonight I was speaking to one of them, a good friend of mine. I must tell her about this. She will laugh.
You know what? I will send you some snow in a barrel. Hope it lasts throughout the flight and you can take it to Morne Diablotin to ski. It may be cool on top of M.D.
On the other hand are you aware that you can use artificial snow by making it? Google how to.
This morning I was saying they need to wet Morne Diablotin, make some mud and ski. Keep that up, next four years we have a whole team, speed skaters and all. Mission to accomplish!
Think about this if they can represent dominica infront of the world they could also vote in dominica think about it how many more like them that’s out there .
Are you worried? They seem to be nice people who are not taking advantage of Dominica. They love Dominica and have helped it. Note they are trying to assist Dominica and are proud of doing so. How many people would do that? Hats off to them.
i doe understand why…dno accept ur comment… this is nonsense… stop… everything is politics? let those people free up their self…
they more dominican than u..-_-…
p.s if jamaica can have a bobsled team why dominica cyah have a ski team?…sttps…stop talk nonsense please
Think about this if they can represent dominica in fron
Can someone please state who are his parents? Is he related to Jackie Di Silveser nee Armour?
no they are not the last names r close but its not the same
This news story bethinks a popular calypso “Miss Barbados” a few years ago by Barbadian Mighty Gabby. The calypso is about a white Canadian young lady who was selected to represent Barbados at an international beauty contest. The most enduring lines from that calypso were ‘Miss Barbados never hear about flying fish” and Miss Barbados never hear about Sir Gary.”
So, a US and Italian couple allegedly “did philanthropic work mostly in other Caribbean countries.” And for that, the powers that be in Dominica found it fit to reward them with Dominican citizenship. “It was kind of given to us” Mr. di Sylvestri says. Is this comment by Mr. di Sylvestri an articulation of our current citizenship policy – “bring money and come”or “do some philanthropic work in the Caribbean and come?” Has the 3 year residency requirement for citizenship been rescinded? In Mr. Di Sylvestri’s own words, “it was nothing”.
The idea of representing one’s country at the Olympics should be about national pride. Since “it was nothing” did the couple even bother to learn the words of the National Anthem?
You could write them, ask them and assist them in this respect. After all they are eager to bear Dominica’s name and flag as citizens. If they won a medal it would be for Dominica and not for their personal exaltation.
Think of it that way, Dominica will be on the map round the world now, not only the U.S.A. And china.
Wha words that nor, can they even recognize the music of the anthem?
Headlines if they win: “Two Canadians With Dominican Headbands Win Gold In Sochi”… Dat can move!
I don’t think there are going with winning in mind.
@Doc Love what you are doing is not acceptable and is offensive at that. You have not been designated to speak on behalf of the UWP because they have a number of capable minds to make statements of their own. So please retract your statement
Well, well, well. That’s a big laugh, and the couple is treating it as such.
They were given citizenship because of their charity? That, to me, is incredible since ”they have done philanthropic work, mostly in other Caribbean countries.” Dominican citizenship seems to be losing its value.
Votes
Well the process of obtaining citizenship in Dominica, is a joke now. Shameful.
LET me get this straight….“It was kind of given to us,” Di Silvestri said. “It was nothing.”….?
I need a US citizenship. Let me go help some elderly person somewhere in Chicago
Are you serious Dominica now has snow? Well let’s blame it on global warming everyone.
it seems like jamaica have snow too because they have a bobsled team..
Thanks for representing my country, wish u guys all the best and i’ll be rooting for you..
I see many things and everything thing making the news on dno…. I wait. The editor (ag.) should get the point.
seriously, you do not think this is news! Boy you smart!
They are quoted as saying that..” Dominica offered them citizenship as a thank you for the charitable work.It was kind of given to us,” Di Silvestri said. “It was nothing.””..
Citizenship for Charitable Work???? well I want a DIPLOMATIC PASSPORT!!! but is so we come? Pure slackness… and for a natural born Dominican to get or renew a passport is pure headache! magwaysah… We only hear about these people when they pop up from obscurity to use Dominicas’ name to fulfill some fantasy, or escape trouble. Who vex lost!
i am not sure that i like this at all. citizenship? just so?
Take it with a grain of salt and exception. They did not bring a crowd to get citizenship from Dominica. They will be back in Dominica sometime and are happy to accept the challenge of representing Dominica and putting it on the map. Just think of the colorful flag and the Sisserou which the world will see.
Lookout! Dominica may get many Russian visitors as well. Good for the economy.
The amount of publicity and potential revenue that the country will make from these two individuals participating at the winter olympics far outweigh whatever costs the DOC will incur; and if I heard it right I does appear that the individuals would be meeting most of the costs themselves so these people who spurting out negative comments above spending on other atheletes really don’t have a point. Remember the Jamaican bobslegh team and the interest this raised in Jamaica??? So all the short-minded negative-inclined folks should find something better to do with their time instead of constantly typing nonsense on DNO
You are the one typing nonsense you brainless fool! You damn lie they’re not meeting the cost, secondly stop repeating this garbage about giving Dominica publicity when infact there are people out in the real world who know more about Dominica than ignoramuses like you!
Anonymous, this is planet earth, remember?
This is laughable. I am not sure which is more laughable – the fact that this couple is suppose to represent Dominica at the winter games or the fact that they were “given” citizenship.
Poor Dominica – from bad to worse. People pushing us from pillar to post and we are only too happy to grab it – regardless of the cost or benefit. SMH
In this case think positive.
yessa weh, leave it to Dominicans to criticize all, is not like none of yal can ski is mountains allu have and hot sun,regardless of what if they are still doing it no one did not ask them to but yet still you all have an issue smh
That couple must be laughing their heads off.
They probably wouldn’t even be considered for representation of their own country. You M. and Mrs., I hope you read DNO. Just make yourself unavailable. I, as a Dominican don’t want you to represent my country in any iceskating nonsense.
If you have shame, you’ll decline the citizenship. But then again, why would you give up sunshine, and clean air, and some people who make you feel like royalty, to go back to a place where you are not even recognised for your ‘charitable works’?
You are discriminating. You do not even like or love your country. Be broadminded.
O’ my shut up. A lot of Dominican in the u.s. have green card and citizenship and so on stop thinking low. You proving to the world how dum and canal minded some of us can be. Uneducated at that. As a Dominican am a shame of reading some of this crap
Doc Love, stop writing studpidness!!!! The United Workers Party would NEVER EVER prostitute their country. Giving citizenship to foreigners for charitable services rendered! That’s a laugh.
As a Dominican, I want that citizenship REVOKED. So anybody can come to our country, do charitable work and get citizenship? What’s happening to our people. That’s blatant prostitution. And you, Brooklyn, if you’re a true Dominican, why don’t you represent Dominica in that event? Would USA give you citizenship for just being a member of the Salvation Army? This whole thing is absurd.
Last time we heard from the Dominica Olympic Committee on DNO, they were having serious issues with the IOC. DNO, has this been resolved? Do you know?
Thumbs up!! it is a global world. go guys go
“WELL I NEVER”
of course, why not to hire Canadian hokey team of 1948 and send them represent Dominica!
This is stupid and absolute nonsense…. Why not to dedicate time and efforts to fund Dominica boxing team or volleyball team…they can achieve something…instead of it you are doing some international masturbation right now!
There are enough Dominicans living in Toronto and the US that they can round up to form a team and send to the Olympics. I am sure they would stand a better chance.
We could have more representation if better tracking of the economic citizenship program was done. Lmao. Next time i going to try ski jumping.
Go for Gold. All the Best
“A NBC sports website in the US has reported that Gary di Silvestri, a 46-year-old originally “from Staten Island, N.Y.,” and his wife, “Angelica Morrone di Silvestri, 48, born and raised in Italy,” will “represent Dominica” at the games.
They are quoted as saying that “Dominica offered them “citizenship” as a thank you for the charitable work.”
““It was kind of given to us,”” Di Silvestri said. ““It was nothing.””
Citizenship is GIVEN as THANK YOU for CHARITABLE WORK?
DI SILVESTRI, I HOPE YOUR “YOU ARE WELCOME” PAYS OFF.
Good luck guys. I will be waving my DA flag in support of you.
All I can say is WOW. Go for it!
This might be a movie story someday.
You bet! Hopefully with numerous pictures and sceneries of Dominica. What publicity? Dominica may get an influx of visitors then.
All I am going to say at time is “Interesting”. Let’s see how this story develops.
One thing that caught my attention is that they are Dominican Citizens.
I wounder how many of these type of citizens are out there we don’t know about?
So far we have not yet heard anything negative especially in recent years.
That awesome
What exactly is awesome about that? Why are Dominicans so easily impressed?
This is the same DOC that can’t find money to help DOMINICAN born athletes get to games in Suriname & elsewhere that they qualified for.
The same DOC that can’t lend financial support because they receive short notice, and DOMINICAN children had to sleep on cold airport benches.
The same DOC who couldn’t help with financial support for airfares, because putting aside their differences and coming to the rescue of the other organization in the interest of the Dominican Youth, was beyond them, so much so the public and private citizens had to pledge donations..
Now two people who feel they want to live out some long lost fantasy decide they will accept some offer to be in Winter Olympics have the same committee blessings and support. I can never endorse that.
TSB they’re not going to like you for saying it. Right now you don’t know who have Dominica passport and who don’t, it’s scary. Dominicans are very easily impressed. What publicity? People who generally go to Winter sports are attracted to that kind of weather and alpine conditions for vacations. Dominicans don’t read, they don’t inform themselves and anything you shove on them they gobble it up especially since they are so partisan. Those people didn’t even ask for passport it was given to them, now out of the blues those two same people of all people get to be in winter Olympics, for a known tropical island? I die nah? this was a set up in the making, no coincidence and I care less about thumbs down, truth is offensive but the reality is undeniable.
Seriously? So we come, offering citizenship for charitable work? If true this raises serious questions. Aren’t there laws governing citizenship? This has to be a joke of some kind. I have nothing against the gentleman but please, don’t we have any pride?
Happy to see a Dominican thinking before they talk..
Too much thinking is also not good. It could be that of a slow-thinking mind and one who can never make up his or her mind, one who is neither here nor there.
You have reminded me how beautiful our Kewyol language is. Yes! You have stated it right. You could have said ‘pancey’, but that would have meant deep pensive thought, but instead you substituted the word ‘catcheelay’ which actually signifies thoughts and ideas, something abstract pulled from somewhere hidden in the mind or the sky,the exact comitted by these two individuals. So let the cry in Rusia be ‘EXAMINE THE HORNS!’.
Dominica welcome the opportunity to represent the Nature Ilse. Go make our Country proud.
Good Luck to both of you !!!!! Thank you for representing Dominica and hopefully giving us some exposure. We will be proud to see our flag alongside the other nations !!!!!
good luck guys
OK something i wrong with this. Why don’t we take the money that we are going to spend for winter Olympics and invest it in our athletes. That will better help us in the long run to obtain a gold medal in track.
Hey when did it start snow Dominica?????? I need to make a turn in Ladaut.
JAMAICA has a bobsled team and it does not snow in Jamaica either. The only thing is that born and bred Jamaicans are representing Jamaica but what’s your point? Ever heard of challenging the status quo? I’m fed up of reading shit from people like you. I’m giving up my Dominican citizenship!
Yes I. D/ca in things!
Good exposure for Dominica.
Well done,only hope that we will not see a big contingent of officials from the DOC,media rep and all.God luck to the Sylvestris.
Yeah, big opportunity for some others to get a free ride!
This is a rare thing for me. I am speechless (but will try to speak anyway). We just gave them citizenship?! Seeing it’s done already, I wish them good luck.
You sound like a woman who got into an accident in Dominica. When she was asked if she is OK, she said, “Speechless I speechless.”
Do not be speechless. I was surprised. You know wonders never cease. Now that I read their story I wish them good luck for Dominica.
A big thank you to you both. Best of luck from Proud Nature Islanders.
Oh well, they also have the Jamaica bobsleigh team and England had Eddy the Eagle, a crazy hero jumping down a ski ramp. At least it is good fun and Tommy will get a free trip. If we can not put Dominica on the map with tropical beaches at least we can do so with snow. Good luck guys!
The manner in which the weather is becoming with climate change as they said, who knows, one day Dominica will have snow.
Setting this joke aside, I have heard that some years from now the places where there is no snow will have snow and vice versa. That will be the day. If it happens in our lifetime and you are in Dominica, get your warm coat, boots, gloves, socks, hats and scarves ready. I do not have to worry. I already reside in a cold climate and am well-equipped for the cold weather, come what may. I have somewhat adjusted to it.
well
great story and good luck
Kool stuff. I wonder whether the coaches in Dominica will be in Russia.
Super two thumbs up to Dominica.
The United Workers Party under the leadership of Mr. Lennox Linton wishes to congratulate and thank Mr. and Mrs. Di Silvestri.
Amen!
Doc Love, Do you hear anybody laughing?