The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas is intensifying its bid to host one of the region’s premier youth sporting events.

The Bahamas Commonwealth Games Association in conjunction with The Bahamas Government is bidding to host the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in Nassau.  

To that end, a team from the CYG parent body, the Commonwealth Games Federation is visiting Nassau on a site inspection visit January 13-15 to determine whether The Bahamas’ bid will be successful.

St Lucia was originally awarded hosting duties of the event back in November 2011. St Lucia would eventually withdraw due to concerns with fundraising and its ability to create suitable venues to stage the overall event.

With the 15,000 seat Thomas A Robinson stadium, which has hosted the CARIFTA Games and two editions of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Relays, the Bahamas has positioned itself as the front runners to replace St Lucia.

The Commonwealth Youth Games is a small-scale version of the Commonwealth Games, designed for the youth of the 71 Commonwealth countries.

Seven sports were contested at the 2015 Games in Samoa. However, the Bahamas did not participate due to being sidetracked by fear of a dengue and chikungunya outbreak.

The first Commonwealth Youth Games were held in Scotland in August 2000 where 733 athletes from 14 countries competed in eight sports over three days.

The second edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games took place in Australia in December 2004 and saw over 1,000 athletes and officials from 22 countries in a 10-sport programme.

The third Youth Games were held in the Indian city of Pune October 12-18, 2008 where 71 nations and territories participated in nine sports.

A decision was taken by the Commonwealth Games Federation at their general assembly in 2005 to move the Youth Games outside of the Olympic Games year and in doing so awarded the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games to the Isle of Man.

At the Isle of Man Games, The Bahamas competed in two of eight disciplines - athletics (track and field) and cycling. The other sports were badminton, boxing, gymnastics for men and women, rugby 7s and swimming.

A decision was taken at the general assembly in 2008 to award the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games to Samoa and also to subsequently adjust the quadrennial cycle so that future events will take place in 2017, 2021 and so on.

All competitors in the Commonwealth Youth Games are between 14-18 years of age on the year of competition. A maximum number of 1,000 competitors are invited to participate from every Commonwealth Games Association.