The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BEIJING, China — There will be cash incentives for all medallists and finalists of Team Bahamas at the 15th IAAF World Championships. But there are no promises for any massive celebrations right now.

According to Tim Munnings, director of sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Bahamas will use the scale that is in place now to award Shaunae Miller and Jeffery Gibson for winning their silver and bronze medals respectively.

“In accordance with the policy that we have in place, those athletes will be awarded,” Munnings said. “We will also be awarding those athletes who would have made a final, providing that they finished in the top eight.”

In that case, Munnings said Leevan ‘Superman’ Sands will not be eligible for any incentives because he finished 10th overall, nor will high jumpers.

As for a parade for the athletes, as was the case in the past, Munnings said the ministry is not planning any welcome home ceremony for the team or athletes right now.

Instead, he said they are looking at having an awards presentation at the end of the year when athletes will be feted and rewarded by the Ministry of Sports.

Depending on the amount of money that Minister Daniel Johnson allocates to the project, Munnings said they will sit down with all of the stakeholders to discuss the projected plans for the athletes.

“Anytime you win a medal, there’s cause for a celebration,” Munnings said. “So we’re looking at the possibility of doing something big with our Sports Hero Week, be changing it to a sports celebration when we honour those athletes from the past into the Hall of Fame and the present athletes who have excelled in the championship and the swimmers, the basketball team and the Special Olympic athletes, who have all done very well on the international scene this year.”

Like everybody else, Munnings said it was disappointing to see how the men’s 1,600m relay team got disqualified.

“With the combination of rookies and veterans that we had on the team, I was pretty confident that we had a good chance of advancing,” Munnings said. “The teams that we competed against are no real pushovers.”

“On the other side of the track, Gardiner took it out as fast as he could and when he gave it to Michael, he stepped on the line in his haste to get to the stagger. It’s unfortunate, but as one of the more experienced runners on the team, you don’t expect things like that to happen. But they do.”

Munnings said the team will just have to put the experience behind them and concentrate on trying to get back on track for the Olympic Games next summer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The World Championships served as a qualifier for the Olympics as there are times set, but the top 16 fastest times will be eligible to compete.

Team Bahamas will leave Beijing tied for 22nd with Trinidad & Tobago and Ukraine with one silver and one bronze each.