Following up on reports, it was confirmed yesterday that the annual CARIFTA Games are indeed postponed again – moving from July 2-4 to August 13-15 as a result of the date change in the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) schedule for secondary school students.
The CXC exams are now scheduled for June 13 to July 16, forcing CARIFTA to be moved again, but still at the Bermuda National Sports Centre in Hamilton, Bermuda. The new date is now less than a week after the completion of the Summer Olympics, in Tokyo, Japan. During a North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) online press conference yesterday, area president Bahamian Mike Sands, said that this would be the last resort for the games. If it is not held in mid-August, it would have to be canceled for the second year in a row.
“This is the longest-serving continuous junior track and field meet in the world and one of the preeminent events in this region, and we certainly wouldn’t have wanted to see the meet canceled again,” said Sands. “We had no choice. Looking at all of the dates and the scenarios and recognizing what is available to us, we took a position that the games have to be postponed again.
“CARIFTA is very important to the development of our sport and to young people in this region so whatever it takes to make it happen, we were going to do our best to make it happen. We’re of the hope that in several months’ time, the world would be in a much better place in terms of COVID-19 and a return to normality, and so CARIFTA would be able to go on without any further delay and setbacks.
“We’ve been very proactive to arrive at this point so quickly. Protocols that have been established by the relevant authorities and respective bodies will be put in place and will be followed. Whatever position the Competent Authority in Bermuda puts forward, we have to respect it and adhere to the guidelines. At the end of the day, we are going to go beyond our means to ensure that CARIFTA takes place. It is that important and that significant to us.”
Sands said that coaches would have to think outside of the box and adjust the training schedules for their athletes so as to keep them motivated and physically prepared for an August hosting. Also, the schedule is being closely looked at, with adjustments possibly being made to starting and finishing times each evening in the event that more heats are needed to ensure the social distancing of athletes on the track.
Bermuda National Athletics Association (BNAA) President and Chairperson of the local organizing committee of the 2021 Bermuda CARIFTA Games Donna Raynor said they are in full cooperation and agreement with NACAC regarding the date change.
Dating back to the cancellation of last year’s event, she said it has been a logistical challenge for them, but they are prepared to move forward with the new date and putting on an event that the region can be proud of.
“This year and last year has been a challenging one for us,” said Raynor. “We discussed options and the only date option that was available was August 13-15. If it doesn’t take place on that date, we would have to cancel. There are some positives coming out of this. Hopefully by August, the Caribbean would have a better hold on COVID-19. Most countries would have received vaccines by August so hopefully we would be able to have spectators in the stands because if CARIFTA was held today there would be no fans. Also, in August, the weather in Bermuda is quite stable rather than the cold weather that we would have in April. We also have more time for the athletes to reach the required standards. Also, the hotels have advised that there is availability during this period.
“This is a long and unusual season but we are up for the challenge and will give 100 percent to ensure that CARIFTA takes place. There are many hurdles that we have to leap over, but with the support of NACAC, the membership of NACAC and everyone involved, we will make this happen.”
Raynor said that tickets purchased for the CARIFTA Games will be honored during the August hosting unless they take the position that spectators will still not be allowed. Additionally, it was mentioned that discussions surrounding age eligibility have arisen, including allowing athletes would have been in their final year of eligibility a year ago to take part this year, but there has been no determination made on that issue as yet. NACAC President Sands said they are in discussions with various charter companies so as to have a central location for teams to gather and transport athletes and team delegations from that location directly to Bermuda without the hassle of them having to go through the United States, so as to reduce cost and length of travel, thereby making it easier on the respective national squads.
As far as their overall budget and costs are concerned, Raynor said they expect that there could be an increase in the coming months.
“At the moment there hasn’t been a drastic change in the cost to host the games but we do expect an increase in budget for various aspects,” said Raynor. “A lot of stuff has been purchased up front and our sponsors are still on board. They understand what has happened in terms of COVID-19 and how disrupted it has been. There are some areas we will be able to have a reduction in but we do expect additional costs as well. Hopefully we could mitigate those costs.”
Raynor said they are in the process of presenting a document to the Government of Bermuda, detailing the guidelines as it relates to mask wearing, physical distancing and other safety measures that will be in place during CARIFTA. Additionally, athletes, coaches and team officials will be tested prior to arriving in Bermuda and on a daily basis in Bermuda. Vaccines are recommended but are not mandatory and there will be no quarantine measures in place.
President of the Barbados Sports Medicine Association, and one of the chief physicians on the event’s medical staff, Dr. Adrian Lorde said that a medical plan is in place to ensure a safe experience for athletes, coaches and officials at the 2021 CARIFTA Games.
With the switch to the new date, it creates a crowded schedule of major athletic competitions this summer, particularly for juniors. The Olympic Games is still on the table, set for July 23 to August 8, in Tokyo, Japan, and CARIFTA track and field is now set to commence less than a week later. The World Athletics Under-20 (U20) Championships is scheduled for August 17-22, in Nairobi, Kenya, and the 2021 Junior Pan American Games is September 9-19, in Cali, Colombia.
Newly elected president of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) Gareth “Garth” Gayle said perennial CARIFTA Champions Jamaica will do all that it can to ensure full participation of their national squads in the respective summer meets.
“Let me just say that the JAAA will be supporting both events (CARIFTA and World U20s),” said Gayle. “CARIFTA is critical to us as we are a part of the Caribbean and critical for youth development. Our elite junior athletes would have that option of going to CARIFTA or to the world juniors. It has happened in the past and it is doable. We don’t see a major issue and we would not impose on our athletes to go to either CARIFTA or the world juniors. The choice is theirs. We see the need for CARIFTA as well as the need for the world juniors. We assure you that we will have the best available athletes to represent our country at all times.”
Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) President Drumeco Archer was not a part of the meeting yesterday but said on Tuesday that they support the date change for CARIFTA and will be prepared to have strong representation for The Bahamas at the Olympics, CARIFTA and the World U20 Championships this summer.
The postponements and cancellations of athletic meets, which stems from 2020, can all be traced to the effects of COVID-19 in the region and around the world. In 2020, for the first time in the history of the event, the CARIFTA Games was canceled. With the COVID-19 pandemic still rampant in year two, this year’s CARIFTA Games was pushed back from the Easter holiday weekend to July 2-4, and now to mid-August.
It will be the latest in the year that the annual CARIFTA Games are held.
The post It’s confirmed: CARIFTA is postponed again appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/its-confirmed-carifta-is-postponed-again/
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