The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia,net

LONDON: While she waits for Team Bahamas to start competing at the International Amateur Athletic Federation's 16th World Championships, Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations president Rosamunde Carey is making some headlines of her own in the IAAF Congress.

Carey, who is attending the congress with first vice president Tonique Williams, was appointed as the chief scrutineer for the 51st session of the congress that will take place today ahead of the championships on Friday.

The appointment came on Monday when she was informed by IAAF president Lord Sebastian Coe. She said it was a honour that she gladly accepted, not just for the Bahamas, but the North American and Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) region, which she represented.

"They looked at a variety of items they wanted to discuss and it was decided that the governance and integrity and also events presentation and technology was more relevant for them to deal with at this time. So she has to preside over the discussion and make a formal report to the IAAF Council.

"I was honoured. I was more pleasantly surprised coming out of the meeting yesterday morning (Tuesday)," Carey told The Tribune. "When president Coe called me and asked me if I was comfortable being the chief scrutineer, I said 'yes' and he said I had the voice of confidence from him and the council."

While Carey is not the first Bahamian to be appointed to any board or committee within the IAAF, she said it's important for her to continue the legacy that was started by her predecessors, including the late Dr Bernard Nottage, Alpheus 'Hawk' Finlayson, Pauline Davis-Thompson and Dennis Marshall.

"It means that the Bahamas has people who are capable of making a contribution on the international scene, not just on the track, but in administration," she stressed.

"I was very honoured to have been chosen. When we look at the list of scrutineers, to be chosen over persons from 30 countries in NACAC and then to be chosen the chief scrutineer over all of the other countries, is a great testimony to what we can achieve as a people."

All day yesterday, Carey said she was locked down in meetings making sure that she goes through all of the legal ramifications that come with her role.

And, as the competition is set to start on Friday, following the congress, Carey said she's looking forward to Team Bahamas putting on a very good show over the next nine days of competition.

"We have great expectations for not just for Shaunae Miller-Uibo in the 200 and 400 metres, but I think Donald Thomas is looking good in the high, our men's 4 x 400 metre team and our women's 4 x 100m team are also going to do very well," she said.

"We also feel that Devynne Charlton is going to do very well in the hurdles, so is Steven Gardiner in the 400m and we are looking forward to seeing what Michael Mathieu can do in the 200m. He seemed to be leaning more towards that event than the 400m."

Carey said she's pleased with the 24 athletes that will carry the Bahamian flag in competition, the expectations are very high and the BAAA will ensure that the athletes are all in the best frame of mind to compete at their best.