The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE husband-and-wife team of Trent and Julia Jordan have thrown their philanthropic support behind the Local Organising Committee for the 50th CARIFTA Games as they support their daughter, who has a disability, but is eager to participate in track and field.

The Canadian citizens, who have been residing here in the Bahamas for more than a decade, were invited to join the games, scheduled for April 7-10, through their long-time association with LOC chief executive officer Lynden Maycock.

“We want to say thank you for your contribution to the youth of this nation,” said Maycock, as he introduced the couple to the public at a press conference yesterday. “We want to say thank you and we invite you to the greatest CARITA Games. Thank you for coming and going gold with us.”

Maycock said the Jordans were first introduced to track and field during the 2015 World Relays and ever since, they were looking at ways to extend their generosity as they have done in so many other ways in assisting Bahamians in the past.

Fern Hanna, the marketing manager of the LOC, said she will definitely be calling upon the Jordans to make their contributions in supporting the LOC in making the games a success.

As a former rugby player, Jordan said youth sports has always been near and dear to his heart and when they moved to the Bahamas about 14-15 years ago, they were hoping that their children would be participating in sports.

However, he said while their son has been able to get involved, it was only when they enrolled their daughter in Queen’s College last year that she started to get serious about participating in sports.

“She’s really excited about her school, excited about the track team and while we’ve known Lynden for about 10 years, we really jumped on board with CARIFTA to show our daughter that there are so many other people suffering from different things in life and they are still participating in sports.”

His wife, Julia, said they are so grateful and honoured to be a part of track and field, which was a passion of hers before they came here. She said this is one of the amazing outlets for their children and kids on the whole to exert their energy and so they are thrilled to be able to assist in the sponsorship of the games.

Her husband, Trent, said while they have given away scholarships, provided food packages and given to hurricane relief efforts, their sponsorship was done primarily because of their daughter and so this was the right fit in supporting CARIFTA.

Mike Sands, president of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC), responsible for the sanctioning of the games, said they are delighted to be able to welcome the first philanthropic team to the games’ sponsorship. “I had the opportunity to speak to Trent and I can tell you, I already felt the warmth when we started the conversation,” Sands said. “Not only that, which I am impressed with, but the short time that they have immersed themselves into our community.”

Sands said he would like to encourage the Jordans to invite some more of their friends to follow in their footsteps in making their contributions to the development of the Bahamas, which they can now deem their second home.

“Welcome to our home, welcome to our house. Welcome as you help us to make this 50th CARIFTA Games one of the best ever,” said Sands, who extended his gratitude to Maycock for bringing them on board.

CARIFTA chairman Harrison Thompson called it an historic day as they welcomed the Jordans to the CARIFTA family through Maycock, who made it possible. “It warmed our hearts to see how they are concerned about the Bahamas and young people in general,” Thompson said. “CARIFTA is all about young people, so we are appreciative of all of the efforts that they will bring to the table as they join us in making this the best ever CARIFTA Games in the 50-year history of the event.”

Thompson also asked the Jordans to talk to their friends to encourage them to assist the LOC in achieving their goal as they “go gold.”

Pauline Davis-Thompson, the Dame of the games, said when she heard the message of the Jordans, she said they are touching the lives of so many young people. “This is so special what you guys are doing here today,” she said. “I am so emotional. It’s just so touching to see two persons, who are not Bahamians, but are adopted Bahamians, reaching out to assist us.

“We so appreciate you and so on behalf of this entire organisation, this LOC, the Bahamas government, I just want to say may God continue to bless you and the Benebys for what you are doing. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart from my country and now your country.”