The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games is fast approaching and Bahamas Olympic Committee president Wellington Miller said they are looking forward to putting on the show of all shows.

"Our plans for the Commonwealth Youth Games is on target," he said. "We are looking forward to fully executing our plans. We believe we will put on the best show that has ever been staged in the Bahamas.

"We want to advise the people to have their expectations very high because we are coming out with a great games. I don't want anybody to come out with any low expectations. The games will be ran professionally by Bahamians and we will execute it to the best of our ability."

The Bahamas stepped in to take on the hosting of the sixth edition of the games just last year after St Lucia withdrew in 2015, citing financial difficulties.

The games, which is expected to feature some 69 countries, is scheduled for July 19-23 with the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre as the hub of the activities, inclusive of aquatics, athletics, beach soccer, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling, judo, rugby sevens and tennis.

"This games is being produced and directed by Bahamians," Miller said. "We are going to show the people that just as we are good on the field of play, we are also going to be good in the boardroom in executing these games."

Although there has been a change in government on May 10, Miller said the Free National Movement is committed to supporting the Local Organising Committee, headed by Rommel Knowles.

"We know that the new government has seen the importance of us hosting these games and they will continue to support us just as the previous government, Progressive Liberal Party, who consented for us to host the games," Miller said.

"This is going to be a proud moment for the Bahamas, it's going to be an historic moment too. So we know that while the countries are getting ready to make their way here, we are doing everything to make sure that their stay is a very comfortable one."

With one or two new facilities being erected for the games, Miller said the National Sports Authority, headed by its chairman Lynden Maycock, has done everything to ensure that they are up to the international standards.

"I believe the NSA is setting a standard of what it means to have the facilities maintained to the highest level," Miller said. "They are getting the facilities ready to be used for the athletes when they come here to compete."

As the youth games serves as a preparation for the senior or elite games, Miller said it's important to ensure that the athletes are treated just as fairly when the games are staged here.

From July 16-17, Miller said they intend to welcome the first set of athletes for the games. Once that is done, they will then look forward to the official opening ceremonies and the start of the intense competition.

Six students from Brock University in Canada have been in the Bahamas for the past six months assisting the LOC in the preparation for the games.

"If they didn't have the confidence in us in organizing these games, they would not have sent their students down here to do their course in Sports Management," Miller disclosed. "For us alone, that is a great accomplishment.

"When those students go back to Canada and write their exams, they will always remember that they did their practical right here in the Bahamas at the build up to the Commonwealth Youth Games."

The Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) is an international multi-sport event organized by the Commonwealth Games Federation. The games are held every four years with the current Commonwealth Games format. The first version was held in Edinburgh, Scotland from August 10-14, 2000.

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.

A decision was taken at the General Assembly in 2008 to award the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games to Samoa (5-11 September 2015) and also to subsequently adjust the quadrennial cycle, so that future events will take place in 2017, 2021 and so on.