ST. GEORGE‘S, Grenada, CMC – Minister of Sport Patrick Simmons is calling for regional governments to collectively discuss the situation of this year’s CARIFTA Games.
Simmons feels that regional governments need to intervene urgently, since there was less than three months left to prepare to stage the Games. “Grenada as chair of CARICOM will initiate discussions with other regional governments to see what can be done to assist in the staging of the Games,” he said.
“The CARIFTA Games have provided international exposure for many of our track & field stars, including the likes of Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, Obadele Thompson, Darrel Brown, Usain Bolt, and Kirani James, so we cannot allow it to fail.” The annual track & field championship is in danger of being cancelled for the first time in 40 years, after original hosts St. Kitts gave notice late last year that they were unable to stage the games.
Jamaica, Bahamas, and Trinidad & Tobago were identified as potential hosts but they all turned down the offer.
Simmons, who coached a number of Grenadian athletes, including former World Indoor 400 metres champion Alleyne Francique and triple jumper Randy Lewis, feels the region’s young athletes should not be denied the opportunity to compete among themselves even if it’s a scaled-down version.
He believes there are other possibilities of engaging National Olympic Committees and lottery authorities in the region. “I have been discussing this with the General Secretary of the Grenada Olympic Committee, Veda Bruno-Victor, who also shares a similar passion for regional track & field,” said Simmons. This year’s CARIFTA Games is scheduled for April 22 to 24.
