'We won't be going to the CARIFTA Games'

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunedmedia.net

As a result of the postponement of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture's National High School Track and Field Stadium yesterday, a decision was also made to cancel the Bahamas' participation in both the CARIFTA track and field and the swimming championships over the Easter holiday weekend.

Timothy Munnings, the Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, said the government has made the decision to suspend international travel to any major sporting event, including the CARIFTA Games next month in Hamilton, Bermuda, for track and field and Carlisle Bay, Barbados for swimming and water polo.

BAAA was scheduled to host its final CARIFTA trials next weekend at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium, but president Drumeco Archer said they have no other choice than to scrap the event and their participation in the biggest junior regional sporting competition.

"We have been told that we won't be going to the CARIFTA Games, so there's no need to hold a CARIFTA trial," he said. "It doesn't make sense to have a gathering for the trials if we are not going to the CARIFTA Games."

Antiqua & Barbuda has already made the decision to withdraw from participating in the games and Munnings said the government has made the decision to suspend all international travel to any major international sporting competition.

The government normally provides a chartered airline for the BAAA to take their team and spectators to and from the various destinations for the biggest regional competitions, but Munnings said they are carefully looking at the risk and the impact on the Bahamian people.

"We will do whatever we can do as a nation to avoid any problems of persons contracting the virus," Munnings said. "So we are going to carefully monitor any movement outside of the country wherever possible."

Munnings revealed that the postponement of major sporting events in the country will remain in effect until the end of the month. That would include the final Carifta trials, scheduled for next weekend, which means that the BAAA would not be able to complete its team selection before the games are held.

The BSF, however, had already selected its team to compete in the Carifta Swimming Championships. But federation president Algernon Cargill said they understand the dilemma that they are faced with.

"We certainly understand the reason why given the impact of the coronavirus and to quarantine the entire team on the flight on our return home. The swimmers are disappointed that they are unable to defend their Carifta title as well as the water polo players," Cargill said.

"But they are unreasonable. They understand the situation and hopefully, there will be another event this year for the same team to compete in because they've worked so hard to qualify to compete in the games. Given the decision to cancel Carifta, we don't want them to lose sight of the fact that their hard work will be rewarded with a national trip hopefully this year."

Following their final trials last weekend, the BSF named a 36-member swim team, 11 members for the open water competition and was set to release the names of the players on the water polo team, which would have competed the week before the swimming competition begin on April 11.

Cargill revealed that USA Swimming has also canceled all swimming events for the next 30 days, so what is happening in the Bahamas is not unusual. He further noted that the organizers of the Barbados Carifta Swimming have also indicated that several islands have pulled out and it's likely that they will be canceling the event because of the threat of the virus.

"So we're not acting in isolation," Cargill said. "We're acting along the same line as some of the other Carifta countries, who have decided not to participate in the 2020 Carifta Aquatic Championships."

Depending on the approval they receive and the country they are allowed to travel too, Cargill said the federation will be seeking an alternative meet for the team to compete in.

"We would like to reward these swimmers for all of their hard work when it's safe to do so," he insisted.

Both Archer and Cargill are now awaiting word on whether or not travel will be affected for their teams going to the Olympic Games, scheduled for July 24 to August 9 in Tokyo, Japan.

Bahamas Olympic Committee secretary general Derron Donaldson said while the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic, the International Olympic Committee remained steadfast with its planning to host the Olympic Games.

Donaldson said the organizing committee for Tokyo 2020 is doing everything humanly possible to keep the games village, competition venues and surrounding areas as sterile as they can. He said, having the WHO declare COVID-19 a pandemic only Wednesday, they await further updates from the IOC.

"We have written the Ministry of Health for an advisory on National Team/s travel and necessary protocols to be adopted," Donaldson said. "Until such time as we are furnished with the requested information we ask that you take an abundance of precaution."

Donaldson said they are encouraging their members to adopt precautionary measures as it deems necessary for a safe environment in their sport.

"We will provide further updates as they become available from the Ministry of Health and our international affiliates," Donaldson summed up.