Solar panels have been installed at the Barbados Olympic Association headquarters ©BOA

The Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) has installed a car parking area with a roof of solar panels at its headquarters in Wildey.

The move fits in with the governing body's environmental policy, according to the BOA.

Fifty-two solar panels have been installed over 10 shaded car parking places.

It is predicted that the 15-kilowatt system will provide the BOA with savings in excess of BBD11,000 (£4,200/$5,500/€4,600) every year.

Officials also hope to avoid importing 20 barrels of oil annually.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach agreed that 90 per cent of the cost of the solar carport project would be funded by the IOC.

Obadele Thompson won Barbados' only Olympic medal at Sydney 2000 ©Getty Images
Obadele Thompson won Barbados' only Olympic medal at Sydney 2000 ©Getty Images

This came after BOA President Steve Stoute and secretary general Erskine Simmons met with the German in Lausanne and presented the idea.

The BOA were praised by the IOC for their green initiative.

Barbados sent a team of 12 to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August, who competed across five sports without reaching the podium.

The country's only Olympic medal to date came at Sydney 2000, when Obadele Thompson won bronze in the men's 100 metres.