The Tribune

WITH just two weeks left before the opening of the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games, tickets and merchandise are now officially on sale.

The Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games is scheduled to be held from July 7-15 with the opening ceremonies on Saturday, July 8.

These games will host 14 disciplines and tickets are available online at thebahamasgames.org and in person at the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium.

Clay G Sweeting, Minister for Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs, received the baton on behalf of Eleuthera, home of the Eleuthera Adventurers, as the baton makes its trip from island to island leading up to the opening ceremonies for this 6th Edition Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games.

The Bahamas Games, established in 1989 under the then Minister of Sports, Minister J Bethell, was the first of five games. The following games occurred in 1991, 1995, 1998 and 2001.

For this 6th edition of the games, everyone is encouraged to show their national pride by wearing their Bahamian colours during the games or sporting their favourite island team colours or mascots.

Mario Bowleg, Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, provided an update on the Bahamas Games last Thursday, stating that over 3,000 athletes were registered and ready to participate.

According to Minister Bowleg, patrons of this year’s Golden Jubilee Games will be former Prime Minister Perry G Christie, a former track and field national athlete, and Beverly Wallace-Whitfield. Chancellors of the games will include Craig Flowers and Dr William Thompson.

Bowleg thanked all the staff of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Bahamas Games Secretariat, the sporting federations, executives, volunteers, and both Bahamasair and Western Air, who will be providing air transportation for all of the athletes and officials from across The Bahamas for their continued patronage and support.

Presently more than 600 volunteers have signed up to assist with the successful execution of the Games.

According to Bowleg, the Bahamas Games Secretariat and Independence Celebration Secretariat are working together to ensure that there will be no conflict with the events and activities scheduled for our 50th Golden Jubilee Celebrations.\

All morning sessions beginning at 9 am will be free to all attendees, with the evening sessions starting at 3 pm, and relevant packages are available for purchase at the Kendal G. L. Isaacs National Gymnasium along with merchandise.

Bahamians are encouraged to support their team of choice and come out and support the upcoming Games.

The ten teams forming the individual islands or grouping of islands include:

· Abaco Survivors

· Andros Chiccharnies

· Bimini and Berry Islands Marlins

· Columbus Isles Arawaks (Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador)

· Eleuthera Adventurers

· Exuma & Ragged Island Navigators

· Grand Bahama Lucayans

· Long Island Sheep Runners

· MICAL Flamingoes (Mayaguana, Inagua, Crooked Island, Acklins and Long Cay)

· New Providence Buccaneers

The upcoming games reflect our national theme for our 50th anniversary of Independence, one of unity and progression as one people, as stated in the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games’ slogan, “Our Nation, Our Islands, Our Games.”

The excitement for Bahamas Games 2023 is building, and everyone can participate and learn more about the Games by going to the Bahamas Golden Jubilee Games website: thebahamasgames.org or following, liking and subscribing on social media for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @thebahamagames or TikTok and YouTube @thebahamasgames.

Every Tuesday at 6 pm, the public is encouraged to tune into the “Hype Tuesday” show streamed live on the Bahamas Games’ Facebook and YouTube Channels to represent their island and team and show their support for who they feel will win the upcoming Games.

For more information on how to participate in the games or general information on the Games, persons can call (242) 322-1029/69 or email info@thebahamasgames.org or bahamasgamessecretariat@gmail.com.