CARIFTA Preparations ‘On Schedule’

HAMILTON, Bermuda (Bernews) - The preparations for the 2012 CARIFTA Games are on schedule, Sports Minister Glenn Blakeney said last week. The Games are expected to attract over 500 athletes and over 100 officials from some 26 countries.

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

Good Afternoon,

I am most elated to be here today as Bermuda looks forward with anticipation to hosting the LIME CARIFTA Games from April 6-9th, 2012 here at the Bermuda National Sports Centre.

It is most worthy to note that is the venue where Usain Bolt broke the World Junior 200m record on the track in 2004 and here at our National Sports Centre is where the spotlight of the world will be on some of Bermuda’s top sportsmen and women and indeed some of the world’s best track and field athletes from the Caribbean.

The preparations for the games are on schedule. We have received our preliminary entries and expecting over 500 athletes and over 100 officials to attend this event, when some 26 countries are expected to compete. Tickets are selling well and we are expecting a full house with close to 4000 persons each day including several overseas guests.

Not only is the preparation of the event going well but so is the preparation of our local athletes. We are looking exceedingly forward to them putting on a superb show in front of our home crowd.

The CARIFTA Games is an annual junior athletics competition founded by Barbadian Austin Sealy in 1972. The Games has its origins in the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), which was made up primarily of countries from the English-speaking Caribbean.

In 1972, when the CARIFTA was enlarged to include non-English speaking countries of the Caribbean, namely the French and Dutch speaking nations, became known as CARICOM.

The Games consists of most of the Track & Field disciplines involving running, jumping and throwing and has two age-group categories, namely Under 17 and Under 20 for both male and female competitors.

The Games are meant to enhance relationships between the countries and impress upon all, the commonality of purpose shared between the Islands.

The Games, run entirely under International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) Rules, are traditionally staged over the Easter weekend every year in one of the member states or associate states of CARICOM.

The Games are arguably the most important regional Junior Athletic Championship outside of the World Youth or World Junior Championships. College and university coaches and scouts from the United States of America travel to the Games every year to identify potential athletes for their schools’ athletic programs.

The Games have produced a plethora of World Record holders and World Track & Field Champions and Stars over the years. Indeed over 30 Olympic Games medalists can trace their origins to the Carifta Games.

The Games will be held in Bermuda for the fourth time, the previous Games being held here in 1975, 1980 and 2004.

Before I conclude my remarks today, let me take this opportunity to encourage everyone to attend what promises to be a very exciting event, which I strongly encourage the entire Island to come and support.

Thank you.