Jamaica set to host CARIFTA 2022

The 49th edition of the popular CARIFTA Games is now set to be held in Jamaica during Easter weekend, April 16-18, 2022.

For Jamaica, it is aligned with their Diamond Jubilee of Independence, meaning they are celebrating 60 years of independence, and the games will now be a part of their independence celebrations. The Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association will be the host association of the games.

President of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Mike Sands confirmed the news that was agreed upon at the NACAC Special Congress held on Saturday.

“We are very excited that Jamaica has stepped up to the plate to host the games. I think one of the determining factors from the Jamaican government was the fact that next year is their Diamond Jubilee. The fact that the independence celebration and planning also comes under the Ministry of Sports, I think that didn’t hurt the the proposal either. We’re very, very excited about that. That’s one that we can put behind us in terms of looking for a host. We can now just go forward and provide whatever support is necessary for Jamaica to host the games,” Sands said.

Jamaica last hosted the games in 2011, which was the 40th edition. It was held at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, Montego Bay. There has been no discussions as to the location yet but from the NACAC’s standpoint, it appears that it will be held at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Some of the athletes have aged out who were set to participate at the games in 2020 and 2021. Sands is confident in the area coaches to have the athletes in tip-top shape.

“I have confidence in our area coaches,” Sands said. “I’m talking about all the coaches because they were the ones that produced the athletes over the years. They now have to go to the drawing board or stay on the drawing board and revise their schedule, recognizing that the games are on, buying any unforeseen circumstance. They have to now get their athletes to the point and the fact that it’s a short window because we’re less than 150 days or so from the games. I think it’ll revitalize them or motivate them to get to the point. Every kid in the Caribbean looks forward to CARIFTA, and so, this would be an impetus with the short window that we have for them to get their act together, if you will, so they can be performing to their best.”

These games garner a lot of spectators from the Caribbean and as it relates to spectator presence in 2022, Sands said he is optimistic that the Jamaican government has taken it into consideration. At the same time, health protocols have to be followed.

“It hasn’t come to the forefront but as you can tell, from around the world, countries are opening up and I am cautiously optimistic. Definitely, the world would be in a much better place by this time next year but I’m sure that the government of Jamaica would have taken all things into consideration to permit the games to go on. If the need arises, as I’m sure it will, to some extent, no matter whatever protocols must be put in place, then we have to adhere to those protocols. Not to take away from the significance of the games but in co-operation with the health authorities and other authorities of Jamaica, we must take those into consideration,” Sands said.

This comes after Bermuda was unable to host the games this year and 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 and 2021 editions were the only time the games were canceled.

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