The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE the effects Hurricane Matthew has had on many aspects of day-to-day life for Bahamians, the plethora of major sporting events the country expects to host in 2017 are expected to remain on schedule.

Bahamas Olympic Committee President Wellington Miller said the local community was reassured by the words of Prime Minister Perry Christie earlier this week which suggested the sports tourism schedule would be able to continue uninterrupted.

“I want to thank the Prime Minister for those words of encouragement that none of the big events they were going to have next year will be cancelled. To myself and to the presidents of the federations, that is a great statement and it gave us a piece of mind to know we can still host these events and we will still carry the Bahamas’ flag and its name as hosts of great sporting events. In particular for the BOC with the Commonwealth Youth Games,  an historic first for us in terms of a multi-sport event, it was a welcome and encouraging note.”

Miller and BOC Vice President Roy Colebrooke both travelled to Edmonton, Canada, last week where they assured the 70 countries registered in the Commonwealth that all systems are go in the Bahamas.

They indicated that they have done their job in articulating the Bahamas’ readiness to put on what they are considering to be one of the best and biggest sporting events ever to be staged in the Bahamas.

“This will be the first time that a Commonwealth Games event will be held in the Caribbean in 50 years so every effort is being made to ensure that it’s celebrated by all involved in the 8-9 disciplines.More than 1,300 athletes from 70 countries are expected in town July 18-23 in the capital.

“A lot of people have already committed and are coming down early. To be able to tell them for certain as they were waiting on answer for us to see if the games are on and the Bahamas will still host the event in 2017, it’s a great relief,” Miller said.

The last time that a Commonwealth event was held in the Caribbean was in 1966 when the Commonwealth Games was staged in Kingston, Jamaica.

“We are in the middle of getting everything done. We have staff coming on board to really start pushing to getting that done. I think by the end of this year we will be well on our way. We want to congratulate the government for sponsoring these games,” Miller said. “Usually these games are four years in the making, but the government took it on 18 months out and everything is going well. All of the 70 countries have confirmed their participation and this will be the biggest games ever held in the Bahamas and it will be the largest Commonwealth Youth Games ever held with two new sports being introduced – beach soccer and beach volleyball.”

The extensive list of international sporting events on the calendar for the Bahamas also includes the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the IAAF World Relays, the PureSilk Bahamas Classic,  the Caribbean Islands Swimming Championships, the Battle 4 Atlantis, Popeyes Bahamas Bowl to name a few.