The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

With just two days to go, the National Sports Authority is firing on all cylinders to get the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium transformed in time for the hosting of the 2nd Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational on Saturday.

“In the last three days, I think we are about 80 per cent completed,” said Helson Ambrose, who heads the logistics team for the NSA.

“We have pageantry, we have to put up the flags, do some general painting and prepare the pits for the long and triple jumps.

“The cultural village will be up and running by tomorrow (today) at noon. My deadline is 12 noon tomorrow, which is Thursday. I know, as we normally do, there will be some minor things that we have to put in place. But we hope to have the majority of the things done by then.”

Give the NSA by noon on Friday and general manager Jeffrey Beckles said they will be in a “waiting mood” for the invitational to get started. “Our tech team has been in here and the infrastructural team has done its testing and so technically, we are ready,” Beckles said. “We still have some minor touching up to do, but for the most part, we are good to go. The Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational is a part of our commitment to hosting, not only local events, but branded events in the stadium.

“We are confident that this year, the execution of the Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational will not only be its best, but it will help us to launch our very busy 2016/2017 calendar. So we are asking the real Team Bahamas, the Bahamian people, to come out, get your tickets because this is the place to be.”

The meet is set to begin 11am Saturday with the junior segment that will run until 5pm. Then, from 6-10pm, the elite segment will take place when the visiting international stars will compete against some of the local stars in what is promised to be a prelude to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August. “It’s going to be exciting and the NSA and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture have been working very closely with the LOC of the CBBI event and so we will be ready and we will be looking forward to it.”

Chris “Fireman” Brown, who is on hand to ensure that everything takes shape, said he’s just waiting on the arrival of the athletes.

“We had a few athletes who came in today so the fire has already been started,” said Brown of the preparations for the big event. “Catch the fire. We are excited, the country is excited and we just now have to wait for the storm that we are going to put on.

“We have a lot of excitement for the fans when they come here. It’s going to be good. We expect to have some nice, warm friendly competition, so we are just waiting on the showdown.”

The bulk of the athletes are expected to arrive in town today. They will be staying at the Melia Hotel, the designated Games Village. Tonight, the athletes will be feted to a welcome reception where they will be greeted by the Bahamian dignitaries and sponsors.

On Friday, there will be a light workout session and the LOC will stage two live radio remotes at the national stadium to promote the invitational. Some of the athletes are expected to be special guests.