Optimism builds in the west for CARIFTA Games

SDF donates $2.5m to assist effort

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

President of the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC), Neville 'Teddy' McCook, is pre-dicting that the upcoming 2011 CARIFTA Games, which will be staged at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, at Catherine Hall, St James, will be a major success.

"The preparations are on track and we are satisfied that we will have three great days," said McCook at yesterday's launch of the event in the western city.

The event will be staged between April 22 and 24.

While the Montego Bay Sports Complex is virgin territory as far as staging an international track and field meet is concerned, McCook said he was satisfied that the facility was up to the standard to host the over 800 athletes from the 26 competing countries.

Ideal venue

"I looked at this Catherine Hall facility last September and, from then, I said to myself, 'This venue would be ideal for the CARIFTA Games'," noted McCook.

The event, which has secured major operational funding from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and main sponsors LIME and the Guardian Holdings Group, got another boost when the organisers were presented with a cheque valued at $2.5 million by the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) tohelp with additional expenses.

"We are committed to supporting our young athletes in their development," said SDF chairman David Mais, in explaining their financial input. "It is also a part of our overall commitment to help promote Montego Bay as a sports tourism destination."

He added: "While this will be the first international track event for Catherine Hall, we are quite confident that having successfully hosted the recent CONCACAF Under-17 Championship, this facility is adequate for the CARIFTA Games."

Ray Harvey, western Jamaica's foremost track and field administrator, said every effort will be made to ensure that the Games is a success.

"We are very happy and this will give Montegonians an opportunity to see the power of Jamaica's junior athletes," said Harvey. "In addition, having reached the zenith in so far as local athletics is concerned, we welcome the opportunity to step up to the international level."

Expressing her company's commitment to support the CARIFTA Games, G. Marie Beckford of Guardian Holdings Group said it formed part of their thrust to promote healthy lifestyles and foster cultural understanding across the region's English, French and Dutch territories.