CARIFTA Games in jeopardy again

A final decision on the fate of the 2021 CARIFTA Games is expected to come in May.

This past Saturday, the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) hosted a special information session for the CARIFTA family. A Zoom meeting was attended by member federations as well as chairs of NACAC commissions and working groups.

This year’s edition of the CARIFTA Games is scheduled for August 13-15, at the Bermuda National Sports Centre in Hamilton, Bermuda. The junior regional track and field meet was not held in 2020 because of the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bermuda transferred its hosting responsibilities to 2021.

The global pandemic eliminated the possibility of staging the CARIFTA Games over Easter weekend this year, and therefore NACAC chose July 2, 3 and 4 as the new dates, but was forced to postpone the meet again because of the scheduling of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) external exams.

The August dates, 

however, are now under threat. Bermuda is currently experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases. At Saturday’s meeting, CARIFTA 2021 Local Organising Committee (LOC) member Mia Bean spoke about a 

non-negotiable requirement that any unvaccinated visitor to Bermuda must be quarantined for 14 days.

Since the vaccination requirement would impact all under-17 athletes as well as some of the under-20s, it is a major stumbling block. Other potential challenges were put on the table, including the impact of positive COVID-19 tests during the meet, available hotel rooms, and timelines for booking charters and making payments.

Following extensive discussions, the CARIFTA 2021 LOC was given until April 30 to report to the NACAC Council on the latest situation with all the issues raised at the information session. The LOC is expected to meet with Bermuda Government officials before the month-end deadline.

Following receipt of the Bermuda LOC report, the NACAC Council will make a decision and communicate it to member federations.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/carifta-games-in-jeopardy-again/