The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

With just about a month to go, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the National Sports Authority and the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations have all confirmed that the Bahamas will be ready to host the BTC Carifta Games in the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium over the Easter holiday weekend.

At a joint press conference held at the stadium, the three sporting bodies insisted that all systems are go for staging the “most spectacular” games as the Bahamas, according to Minister of Sports Dr Daniel Johnson, moves from being a sports power to a sporting nation.

Holding our own against nations like China, the United States and Japan, Johnson said the Bahamas has all of the amenities that so many countries only emulate.

“No one has the combination of things we have in the Bahamas to become a sporting destination,” Johnson said. “Water, clear roads, clear skies, best weather, infrastructure, hotel accommodations and airport. No one in the world can compare to what we have to offer.”

In preparation for the return of the Carifta Games to the Bahamas for the first time since 2002 and the seventh in the history of the 42nd top junior regional track and field competition, Johnson said the NSA has been mandated with getting both TAR stadiums ready for the rest of the Caribbean.

“Today, I am pleased to inform you that this (new) stadium, with a seating capacity of 15,000 and a running track that meets IAAF certification requirements, our national stadium is ready to receive our guests,” Johnson stated.

“Adjoining this grand stadium is a full service track and field facility which has been fully refurbished and has also been certified by the IAAF. During these upcoming Carifta Games, the adjoining stadium will be used as a warm-up facility for the competing athletes. However, you should be aware that it is intended to function as a complete stand-alone facility in the future and will be used to host small track meets as the need arises.”

Johnson noted that three technical teams have assessed the new and renovated facilities and have confirmed that they are both indeed at world class standard. These agencies include the Beynon Sports Company, a company which has extensive experience in the business, the IAAF’s technical head and the technical teams from the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Qilu Construction Company, which built the new stadium.

The $50 million stadium was built by the Chinese as a gift to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It was officially opened in February.

During his address, Johnson paid a special tribute and took a moment of silence to remember the contribution of immediate past minister of sports, Charles Maynard, who passed away last year. He also acknowledged the legendary Tommy Robinson, who also passed away last year.

Johnson said he hopes that the BAAA will keep the memory of Robinson alive by naming a special award in his honour at the games.

NSA chairman Leroy Archer, BAAA president Mike Sands, Director of Sports Timothy Munnings and LOC chairman Basil Christie all addressed the media during the press conference.

The general theme coming from all of the speakers was the fact that everything is in place for ensuring that the games will be the best ever.

Archer said that while there have been concerns about the state of readiness for the games, he wants to inform the public that workmen are busy in the new stadium “putting up the rails for safety” in the stands, they are patching up and painting the cracks and the infield was closed for public use for redeveloping the grass and they have to do the striping on the old track and repair the bleachers before they are all in full operation.

Christie said that they have received support from so many areas over the past six months and he is convinced that through their sponsors, including BTC, Atlantis, Bahamian Brewery and Caribbean Bottling Company Limited, the Bahamas will be in a position to host the visiting teams from more than 25 countries, including perennial defending champions Jamaica and Haiti.

Additionally, Sands said the BAAA is looking forward to hosting a number of dignitaries from around the world, including the IAAF president Lamine Diack of Senegal, who made his initial appearance at the games when it was last hosted here in 2002. Other dignitaries from the IAAF as well as NACAC, the top regional body, are expected to attend.

The sale of tickets, which was originally scheduled to be available on Thursday, is now scheduled to begin at the new stadium on Monday after there was a snag in the computer sytem that is being used, according to Christie. Persons will also be able to purchase them on-line at www.carifta2013.com.