The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

With less than four weeks remaining until the start of the sixth edition of the Bahamas Games, excitement is building for the Bahamian-style Olympics. The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games is another one of the major sporting events to coincide with the country’s celebration of the 50th year of independence.

The sporting extravaganza is set to take place July 7-15 with an opening ceremony held on July 8. The games will feature 16 sporting disciplines to be played at 16 different locations throughout the week of competition.

Rev Harrison Thompson, chairman of the Bahamas Games, was recently appointed to the position after taking over from the retired Martin Lundy. He operated as the chairman for the fifth edition of the games last held in 2001.

Rev Thompson talked about the excitement as the games draw near.

“I am really excited about the Bahamas Games that will happen in the next 27 days, God willing, and we are looking for a wonderful and blessed time where the whole Bahamas can be able to come together and be represented through the avenue of sports,” he said.

At this year’s games there will be 10 teams formed to represent the various Bahama Islands. Persons can join or support teams such as the Abaco Survivors, Andros Chiccharnies, Bimini and Berry Islands Marlins, Columbus Isles Arawaks (Cat Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador), Eleuthera Adventurers, Exuma and Ragged Island Navigators, Grand Bahama Lucayans, Long Island Sheep Runners, MICAL (Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins, and Long Cay) Flamingoes and the New Providence Buccaneers.

Collectively, the 10 teams will compete in softball, basketball, track and field, lawn tennis, swimming, field and beach soccer, indoor and beach volleyball, bodybuilding and powerlifting, boxing, cycling, baseball, youth Olympic sailing, regatta sailing and golf.

Rev Thompson said the competitors from the various Family Islands are hyped for their first time competing in these Olympic-style games.

“I am advised that the athletes on the Family Islands are very hyper; they are very ready to go and come and show the rest of The Bahamas what they are all made up of,” the chairman said.

He added that they are looking forward to a good sporting experience and team New Providence is going to be surprised at the talent that comes out of the Family Islands.

The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games was first established in 1989 by former Minister of Sports Peter J Bethell. The event occurred four more times following the start in 1991, 1995, 1998, with the last one in 2001. The games were instrumental in helping to discover new talents throughout the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and also allowed athletes from different sports and islands to be unified.

While the countdown to the games is ongoing, the Bahamas Games Baton has been on the move. The first stop was in Exuma which was followed by Grand Bahama. The Baton tour will make its commute to all the represented Family Islands as a sign the Games are getting closer and also as a symbol of unity and allegiance among Bahamians. The final destination of the tour will be New Providence.

Although most of the athletes that will compete across the 16 sporting disciplines were not around for the previous editions of the Games, Rev Thompson had this message.

“I know these games are a new thing for a lot of Bahamians particularly those under 30. They did not experience the last Bahamas Games because they happened about 22 years ago…this is going to be a great experience for millennials and those around that age set. They might not get to go to the Olympics but they will get the opportunity to celebrate with us here in The Bahamas,” he said.

The 2023 Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games will continue over a week and the highest overall collective score across the various sports will be deemed the winner of the games.