Cayman CARIFTA committee named

(CNS Local Life): A multi-disciplinary team has been set up to help organise the CARIFTA Games, one of the largest and longest-running youth track-and-field events in the world, which is being hosted by the Cayman Islands next year. Lance Barnes, President of the Cayman Islands Athletic Association, and Joel Francis, Assistant Chief Officer in the Ministry of Sports, will co-chair the local organising committee (LOC).

Also included in the team are Ventisha Conolly and Evelyn Rockett (deputy co-chairs); Liz Smith (secretary); Joel Burke (head of finance); Jacqueline Haynes (legal advisor); and  ordinary members Darrel Rankine, Collin Anglin, Osbert Francis and Scimone Campbell-Chin (meeting manager).

“I am very delighted at the opportunity for the Cayman Islands to host the CARIFTA Games again and look forward to supporting the LOC in its delivery of what promises to be the best ever”, said Minster of Sports Juliana O’Connor-Connolly in a press release.

“CARIFTA 2019 will not only involve the government and the association in undertaking an event of such magnitude but will require strong support from the private sector and the community at large. I would like to encourage them to become partners in the execution of these Games.”

Next year, which will mark the 48th CARIFTA Games, will involve more than 500 athletes and delegates from across the Caribbean competing in some 66 events over the Easter weekend.

Barnes and Francis said in the press release that the organising committee “is equipped with the knowledge, skills and experience to ensure a world-class success”. Barnes added, “We are thankful for the support of the government and more particularly the Ministries of Sports and Tourism; and as such, we promise an event that Cayman and the wider region will be proud of. This is also an opportunity for us to showcase our star athletes on our home ground.”

Francis noted the experience of the LOC members. “We have put together a highly capable team with a mixture of experience with some of those who served on previous LOCs for the two editions of CARIFTA that were held in the Cayman Islands and some new blood who are both capable in a variety of disciplines and interested in growing the sport of athletics for future generations,” he said.

“We will be investing a lot of our resources in training both new and existing officials to deliver a quality product and I am particularly keen to see rejuvenated interest from the wider community in the sport as we deliver the quality of sporting event that Cayman is known to present.”

For more information, email Cayman CARIFTA 2019

Tags: Cayman CARIFTA Games

Category: Sports