The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE decision by the BAAA to host the BTC Open Nationals in Grand Bahama was met with some ridicule due to the recent completion of the new Thomas A Robinson stadium. However, BAAA president Mike Sands said the nation’s second city has earned the right to consistently host the top local meet on the organisation’s calendar.

“Seven years ago the BAAAs made a decision that we will alternate our championships in Grand Bahama on odd years. A number of persons asked if we have this brand new stadium on 40 years why are we coming to Grand Bahama, and my answer was, ‘why not?’” Sands said. “Grand Bahama has produced a number of firsts in this country. A number of the top athletes of the past - like Fletcher Lewis who was the first Bahamian to make the finals in an Olympic field event, Nivea Smith, who was the first Bahamian to medal in the World Youth, we have Tynia Gaither, Donald Thomas, members of the ‘Golden Knights’ and countless others. So with that level of success, it’s only fitting that Grand Bahama is able to host a meet of this calibre. We have committed ourselves in the BAAAs to coming to Grand Bahama every other year and these are significant events because odd years are also World Championship years. So the meet serves as a qualifier for the CAC and equally as important if not more so, the World Championships in August. So this is by no stretch of the imagination a second class meet, this is a top notch meet that these athletes aim to qualify.”

Sands said as the Bahamas shifts its focus in the near future on hosting international competition, Grand Bahama will be an important factor once again.

“Next year in 2014 and 2015 the Bahamas will be hosting the World Relay Championships that have been given to the Bahamas by the IAAF and of course we will have to look at training sites and the only other training facility that can take place beyond Nassau has to be in Grand Bahama. The world will come here. Before you start your competition at the World Relay Championships, come on down spend a week or two in Grand Bahama, appreciate the hospitality and move forward to the main event.”

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson said the meet, hosted at the GB Sports Complex, is an example of what the country can expect to happen in other Family Islands with the government’s new initiative outlined in the 2013/14 budget.

“This is the beauty of sports, it brings people together. I’m here to recognise the power of sports in Grand Bahama and beg your indulgence in recognising what we are trying to do through my ministry,” he said.

“We are going to spend $10 million all throughout the Bahamas to put in facilities just like this because we also know there are Olympians in all the Family Islands, many of whom compete at this very meet.”

Senior public relations manager for title sponsor BTC, Jerome Sawyer, said the support of athletics throughout the Bahamas is a mandate for the corporation in its role as a corporate citizen.

“The way that you excel often times reminds us in New Providence that it is not all about us and for that reason BTC is very happy to be a part of this event,” he said. “When it comes to sports BTC believes in supporting our athletes, we believe in supporting the BAAAs, we believe in supporting activities that help to develop our young Bahamians. Many of the athletes that would have come from Grand Bahama have gone on to do great things and we see sports as an avenue to success.”