The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WITH just one week left before the start of the 2013 BTC Carifta Games at the new Thomas A Robinson Track & Field Stadium, Basil Christie has been busy going over his checklist to ensure that everything is in place, including accreditation, sponsorship and accommodations.

Mr Christie, chairman of the local organising committee for Carifta, estimated that it will cost just over $1 million to host the games. And they have been working tirelessly to ensure that everything is in place to host what is being dubbed as “the best Carifta Games ever.”

The Bahamas will christen the new 15,000 seat stadium that is considered to be the jewel of the region. “Our checklist is very extensive. The good thing is we do have a checklist, so we have a clear picture of what has to be done,” Christie said.

Ticketing

“It has been overwhelming,” said Christie of the sales at the stadium so far in the National Sports Authority box office. “Most of our tickets are sold, so we are confident that for every session, the stadium will be full, which should enhance the performance, not just of the Bahamian athletes, but all of the athletes from the visiting countries.”

There are currently 25 countries with more than 500 athletes registered to compete. The official opening ceremonies set for 5:30pm next week Friday.

The first session of competition is slated for 9am Saturday with the evening session at 5pm.

“We intend to be rocking with junkanoo music every session,” Christie said. “The opening ceremony will start off with junkanoo, the Bahamian cultural explosion and it will end with a junkanoo rush-out.”

The final session is scheduled for Easter Monday with the closing session.

Organising Committee

With a heavy load of work emanating from his office, Christie said the organising committee has secured accommodations for the visiting athletes, coaches, officials and delegates from the various participating countries as well as those who are coming in as observers from the rest of the world.

“We have about 75 American coaches who have indicated that they will be here and there’s a number of international media personnel who are also coming,” Christie said. “So we have been running around the clock to make sure that these games are totally electronically perfect.

“We want to make sure that these games are ran the same way that the 2012 Olympics were ran in London, in terms of the automation and the electronic system that is in place. We’ve had experts from Linx Finish, the operators for the photo finish, starting blocks and all other electronic mechanisms that is required for the games.”

Training

In preparation for the games, Christie said the Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO) has gone through a vigorous training session for more than 100 officials - the entertainers have been putting together elaborate opening and closing ceremonies and the volunteers, cleaners, parking attendants and attaches have all been “doing whatever is necessary” to get ready.

“Each of these areas has been led by and directed by dedicated professional persons, not just volunteers, but professional volunteers,” Christie said. “So every aspect of these games has been professionally monitored and so we expect that the games will be of a very high standard.”

Christie said the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture has provided both their financial and technical support to ensure that all areas that need to be covered are at a satisfactory level.

Sponsorship

The principal sponsor for the games is BTC but Christie said there has been a number of companies which have come on board as major or minor sponsors and they are appreciative of all of their financial support.

“We recognise the support and sponsorship of the National Sports Authority, which is responsible for the stadium. They have been working with us straight through,” Christie said.

“They have been doing everything to make sure that the stadium is functional and lives up to its reputation that has been placed on it. In addition to BTC and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, we have Colina, Atlantis, JS Johnson, CIBC, Royal Bank of Canada, Bahamas Business Solutions, Nassau Motors Limited Company, Coca-Cola, Chilly Willy, Bahamian Brewery and Sands Beer, who have all provided their financial support.”

Yesterday, as a part of their 60th anniversary, Lowe’s Wholesale Drug Agencies Limited came on board as one of the sponsors.

Here’s a look at the list of 25 countries and number of athletes registered to compete in the BTC Carifta 2013 at the new Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium next weekend:

Anguilla - 11

Antigua & Barbuda - 14

Aruba - 4

Bahamas - 70

Barbados - 32

Bermuda - 36

British Virgin Islands - 20

Cayman Islands - 35

Dominica - 10

French Guiana - 4

Grenada - 12

Guadeloupe - 25

Guyana - 10

Haiti - 12

Jamaica - 70

Martinique - 21

Montserrat - 2

Netherlands Antilles - 12

St Kitts & Nevis - 16

St Lucia - 10

St Vincent & Grenadines - 12

Suriname - 38

Trinidad & Tobago - 50

Turks & Caicos - 25

US Virgin Islands - 8