June 8 -- The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) continues to demonstrate its commitment to the development of netball in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) through its official sponsorship of the 2010 OECS/ECCB Under 23 Netball Tournament. The tournament will be hosted in St Vincent and the Grenadines from 11 – 17 June.

The ECCB began sponsoring the OECS/ECCB Under 23 Netball Tournament in 1991 as part of its efforts to promote excellence in sports among the region’s young people. The Bank’s continued financial contribution to the tournament demonstrates its commitment to the development of young minds through sports, its belief in the importance of sports to the social and physical development of the region’s young women and the potential of the competition to promote the Bank’s vision of regional integration.

In 1999, the ECCB incorporated a personal development session into the competition with the aim of enhancing the interpersonal and professional skills of the netballers. The theme for this year’s session is “Sporting Wise Financial Choices”. Mr Isaac Solomon, Country Manager, RBTT Bank Caribbean Ltd, St Vincent and the Grenadines will be the featured speaker. During the session the netballers will also engage in the development and presentation of personal financial mission statements.

The OECS/ECCB Under 23 Netball Tournament is rotated annually among the eight ECCB member countries. Each year, the ECCB collaborates with the OECS Sports Desk in St Lucia to stage the tournament in association with the designated host netball association. The teams that will be participating in this year’s competition are: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Commonwealth of Dominica, Nevis, St Kitts, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

St Kitts are the defending champions. St Vincent and the Grenadines has won the tournament 12 times, Saint Lucia four times and Grenada twice.