The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

GLASGOW, Scotland — It has been a long journey here, but undoubtedly the expectations are extremely high for the 53 athletes registered to represent the Bahamas at the 20th Commonwealth Games.

Whether they will all compete in the six disciplines that are on the schedule for the Bahamas is still a mystery until the competition gets underway here on Thursday.

But from all indications, the numbers represent the largest ever since the Bahamas started competing in the four-yearly games since 1954 that are only second to the prestigious Olympic Games.

While the Bahamas would have skipped two appearances in 1974, the year after achieving our independence and again in 1986, around the time the country held its own Olympic-style, but now defunct Bahamas Games.

And if that is any measure stick to guide this year’s team on, one can look forward to the Bahamas bringing home its best medal haul when the smoke has been cleared.

On Sunday, August 3, the curtains come down during the closing ceremonies at Hampden Park, Scotland’s most famous national football stadium, which will also play host to the athletic track and field competition.

All eyes, however, will be focused on the opening ceremonies that will take place at the famous Celtic Football Club. The stadium was built in 1892, but was completely redeveloped and upgraded in 1999 and is known today as one of the finest football venues in the United Kingdom.

As I arrived at the Main Terminal of the Glasgow International Airport on Monday, a public holiday in Scotland, I met the majority of the cycling and boxing team, along with quarter-miler Christine Amertil getting their clearance to embark on their journey for glory over the next two weeks of intense competition.

And one of the first things that assistant boxing coach Floyd ‘Pretty Boy’ Seymour predicted was that by the time they leave, Scotland will know that the Bahamas was here. When I personally went to check in for my accreditation, there was a lot of buzz around the Bahamas. People were still talking about the hosting of the International Amateur Athletic Federation’s inaugural World Relays that was held in May at the new Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

That speaks volumes for our tiny nation that could actually sit in Glasgow. And with the 10 additional athletes who got their final approvals, all four relay teams in the men’s and women’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 metre relays in the athletic competition, that should give our team an added boost to the already power-packed team that will be showcasing at least two athletes in events from the 100 to 400 metres for men and women. One female competitor has also been named for the 800m.

And on the field, there are competitors lined up to compete in all of the jumps for the men. So the question is: “Who will ascend the dais this year and just how many medals will the Bahamas add to its collection.

For the record, the Bahamas has achieved a total of 25 medals, inclusive of nine gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze. The top performance came in 2002 not too far away in Manchester, England, with four gold and four bronze snagged in the bag. There was similar results ‘Down Under’ in Brisbane, Australia, when two gold, silver and bronze medals each were posted on the final chart.

Twelve years since that historic feat in Manchester, two of the medallists are still competing, although their concentration will be slightly different.

Veteran Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown teamed up with Troy McIntosh, Dominic Demeritte and Tim Munnings to win the bronze in the men’s 4 x 400m relay. Brown will be out to claim another relay medal, but could this be the year that he finally achieves one of the two ultimate individual medals that has slipped out of his grasp in the 400m. The other is at the Olympic Games where he hopes to end his career in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

It would be good to see the 35-year-old, who seems to be getting better with age, close out his final Commonwealth Games appearance with a medal around his neck.

The track and field competition will run from Sunday, July 27 to Saturday, August 2.

Immediately following the opening ceremonies, the Bahamas’ suspense will be lifted when the Rahming family of Cynthia and D’Arcy, siblings coached by their father, D’Arcy Sr, will take their talent to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.

This is the Bahamas’ debut in the sport and so just being a part of the field is remarkable, but don’t let the Rahming duo hear you because their aim is to win a medal. The three-day meet will wrap up on Saturday, July 26.

At the same time over at the Tallcross International Swimming Centre and running through Tuesday, July 29, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace will lead the contingent of ‘Elvis Burrows, Ariel Weech, Dustin Tynes, Joanna Evans and McKayla Lightbourn in action.

Vanderpool-Wallace is expected to lead as she will be the favourite of the group to contest for a medal or two with Burrows as the next best shot at gaining some international glory for the Bahamas.

Boxing will be contested from Friday, July 25 to Saturday, August 2 at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. There are four young men, led by veteran Carl Hield, and inclusive of Kieshno Major, Godfrey Strachan, Rashield Williams, who are all hoping to ride the momentum that Seymour came here with.

Hield has his own legacy to build on, having won a medal in Delhi, India in 2010. He joined team-mate Valentino Knowles, who gave the Bahamas its best finish so far. The stage was set from 1982 when Stevie ‘the Heat’ Larrimore broke the barrier by winning the country’s first Commonwealth medal.

The last week of competition will be quite interesting for the Bahamas, not just before the track and field team will be in action, but so will the lone wrestler Rashji Mackey, who will take to the mat at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre Precinct from Thursday, July 29 to Saturday, July 31. Mackey is an unknown commodity and so whatever he achieves will have to be used as a measuring stick for his future.

Talking about future, when the cycling competition begins with the time trials on Saturday, 31 at the Glasgow, Green, the next generation of competitors will be in the spotlight.

Chad Albury is the oldest member of the team, but he is making his Commonwealth Games debut with Jay Major, Anthony ‘Biggie’ Colebrooke and Roy Colebrooke Jr. The latter three represent the future for the Bahamas, but they feel they can make their breakthrough this year.

The road race on Sunday, August 3 will be the highlight for the team. If they can get at least one competitor in the final peloton, which comprises of the last group of cyclists in the race, it will be another remarkable accomplishment for the Bahamas.

And as if his longevity in the Bahamas Olympic Movement wasn’t sufficient, immediate past president Sir Arlington Butler will be honoured in a special ceremony by the Local Organising Committee. No doubt, it’s one of the highest accolades he will receive during his tenure of more than 30 years in the BOC.

As another sidebar to the competition, three Bahamians will be among the list of celebrities celebrating their birthdays. Distance swimmer Joanna Evans will turn 17 on Friday, while long and triple jumper Tamara Myers will blow out 21 candles on Sunday, July 27. Quarter-miler Alonzo Russell will be the oldest of the trio at 22 on Saturday, August 2.

While all of the athletes are still not in the Games Village yet, the Bahamas will be officially welcomed in a ceremony today. It will signify that the Bahamas is indeed here at the games.

It’s only a matter of time before the athletes go to war and demonstrate their stuff in their respective events. Stay tuned for what will be an exciting Commonwealth Games for the Bahamas.

As I write this report from the Main Press Centre here in Glasgow, I predict that this will be the Bahamas’ best showing with more medals won than ever before.