The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

OUTSIDE of the prestigious Olympic Games, the Bahamas Olympic Committee is gearing up to send one of its largest teams to the next biggest sporting event on the world calendar - the Commonwealth Games.

Known as the “Friendly Games,” the Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event, similar to the Olympics. It’s designed only for athletes from the list of 71 countries in the Commonwealth of Nations.

The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, has taken place every four years since then the Commonwealth Games were known as the British Empire Games from 1930 to 1950, the British Empire and Commonwealth Games from 1954 to 1966, and British Commonwealth Games from 1970 to 1974.

The XXII or 22nd edition of the games, which were cancelled twice in 1942 in Montreal, Canada and 1946 in Cardill, Wales because of the world war, will be held from July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham, England.

The last games was held in 2018 on the Gold Coast in Glasgow, Scotland - in its 15th appearance.

The Bahamas, with a 31-member team, earned a gold medal from Shaunae Miller-Uibo in the women’s 400 metres, while Jamal Wilson and Jeffery Gibson got silver each in the men’s high jump and 400m hurdles. The men’s 4 x 400m relay team of O’Jay Ferguson, Stephen Newbold, Alonzo Russell, Teray Smith, Michael Newbold and Ramon Miller clinched the bronze.

The BOC, which is responsible for the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, the Pan American Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games, will be looking to field another strong, solid team for the trip to England, according to president Romell Knowles.

“The Bahamas Olympic Committee expects or anticipates 2022 to be a very active year, given the Commonwealth Games in July and then the inaugural Caribbean Games,” Knowles said.

With a number of athletes away in school or competing as professionals, Knowles said they will be among the list of local athletes who will be considered for representation of the country at the games possibly in aquatics (swimming), athletics (track and field), judo, wrestling, triathlon and boxing.

“We don’t just yet know exactly how many teams and athletes will be competing, but we expect that it will be a very good games,” Knowles projected.

Apart from their international participation, Knowles said the BOC will be working closely with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, to ensure that sports return in a safe environment.

“We will be working with the local federation with the view of building a pipeline,” Knowles said.

“As you know, traditionally, we’re a country known for swimming and athletics, but over the years, we have been diversifying our sporting programmes on the international programme.

“There are a number of federations we believe that are very close to competing at the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games level.

“We will be assisting them as best as we could so that we can get more sporting disciplines to be able to represent the country,” he added.

On the local front, Knowles said the BOC will be working with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to ensure that the Family Islands benefit a little more in getting their programmes up to stream so that they will be prepared for the proposed return of the popular Bahamas Games.

As for the gender equality in sports, which includes transgender athletes competing in sports, Knowles said the BOC will do its part to give everyone a fair chance to be able to compete and to represent the country at the Olympics or the Commonwealth or Pan American or CAC Games.”

“Administratively, we intend to be very busy, lending our support to our national federations and associations so that at the end of the day, we will be better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead,” Knowles summed up.

One of their challenges this year is the Commonwealth Games.