CARIFTA Games hangs in the balance

CARIFTA 2020 logo.
CARIFTA 2020 logo.

The regional CARIFTA Games hangs in the balance as a final decision on the fate of the 2021 Games will be announced in May.

Last week, the North American, Central and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) hosted a special information session for the CARIFTA family.

The 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 Aug. 13-15, in Bermuda. The regional junior meeting was not held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bermuda transferred its hosting responsibilities to 2021.

The global pandemic eliminated the possibility of staging the Games on Easter weekend. NACAC had chosen July 2-4 as the new dates, but was forced to postpone again because of the scheduling of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) external exams.

The August dates are now under threat. Bermuda is currently experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases. Local Organizing Committee (LOC) member Mia Bean spoke about a non-negotiable requirement that any unvaccinated visitor to Bermuda must be quarantined for 14 days.

The LOC is expected to meet with the Bermuda government officials before the end of the month deadline.