The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JUST nine days remain before the IAAF World Relays Bahamas get underway in the nation’s capital and the Local Organising Committee have set out to ensure that the pomp and pageantry surrounding the event remains uniquely Bahamian.

“The pageantry in our stadiums and at our events has always been pleasing, but not striking. It has always been pretty good, but again not striking,” said LOC chairman Keith Parker.

“We thought that for this event, our stadium, with millions of people focused and watching, we want them to know this is Bahamian. There will be no doubt in anyone’s mind and this extraordinary event will be wonderful publicity for the Bahamas,” he said.

Artwork by renowned artists Stan Burnside and Julian Smith will adorn the stadium to give it what organisers have called a “festive” feel.

“We are presenting the Bahamas’ sports tourism model on the world stage. It has to look that way, feel that way and we have to perform that way. We are going to be great hosts and you are beginning to feel that in the air,” Minster of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson said.

“What you are seeing now is a generational shift. The significance of these relays is just that, the passing of the baton from one generation to another. The Caribbean has put out some of the greatest athletes consistently, hence the IAAF coming to the region and we are the first to host something of this magnitude. There are a lot of people competing with sun, sand and sea with a cheaper product. To remain ahead, the Government of the Bahamas has taken a firm position. You have to invest in your brand to stay ahead so our brand is sports in paradise.”

Fred Ferguson, LOC director of entertainment and the opening ceremony, outlined what the Bahamian public can expect from an entertainment perspective.

“From the moment the opening ceremonies begins everything runs on a clock. The precision will be first and foremost,” he said.

“As far as the entertainment is concerned we have Angelique Sabrina singing the national anthem, but everything begins and ends with Junkanoo. We have a joint group of 100 members strong that will rush into the stadium and they will be there not just for the opening, but the entire relays. We are looking forward to a very exciting opening ceremony and exciting two days.”

In terms of what happens on the track, Paul Hardy, IAAF competitions director, said teams will be competing for the newly minted “Golden Baton.”

“There is going to be a lot of glitz, a lot of glamour, a lot of fire and a real focus on the athletes. Relays are a team competition and that was one thing we were missing in the IAAF programme. There is a point concept so there will be an overall award winner and they will receive the ‘golden baton.’ Junkanoo will be in full force and we want every second in the stadium to be exciting,” he said.

“We are very excited for what is going to happen in a week’s time.”

A total of 43 member federations have officially registered for the event and despite some glaring omissions, Hardy said he expects the first edition of the event to set a gold standard.

“We have now got the final entries in which will be distributed between Thursday and Sunday. Overall, from the IAAF’s perspective, we are very happy with the member federations. Right now we are at 43 and that could go up by a couple, it could go down by a couple depending on the usual problems people have. We were hoping to have 40, so at 43 we are still vey happy,” he said.

“With the quality of the athletes, we are happy. [Usain] Bolt is not coming and that is unfortunate but that will not have any impact on this event.

“The rest of the athletes that are coming, teams will be here with their ‘A’ squads and we will have fantastic matchups in every event.”