Sports
Bahamas Prime Minister opens Carifta Games 2013
By The Bahamas Weekly News Team
Mar 30, 2013 - 1:41:14 AM

Bahamas Prime Minister Christie declares Carifta Games 2013 open. Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

Nassau, Bahamas - The Carifta Games kicked off in The Bahamas last night at the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium.

The following are the remarks made by the Rt Hon. Perry G. Christie, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas:
 
Good evening,

On behalf of the people and the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas it is my esteemed pleasure to officially open the 42nd Annual CARIFTA Games.  This is the 7th time that The Bahamas has hosted these much anticipated regional games. 

It is with the greatest of pride that we today host over 600 of the finest athletes, coaches and officials from 26 countries in the inaugural regional sporting event for our new National Stadium which has been named in honour of the late Thomas Robinson, the Bahamas’ first internationally recognised track and field athlete, who died late last year.

I could not think of a more fitting opening event for this stadium.  So Tommy my friend I know as you observe the Opening Ceremony of these 42nd Annual CARIFTA games from your eternal resting place, I am assured that you share with all of us the joy and pride that is befitting this occasion.

Since its completion, this stadium has come to symbolize the future of national sports in The Bahamas.  It is a modern facility, designed to provide the best environment for training athletes and holding sports and cultural events.  It holds thousands of enthusiastic supporters and fans; it is a stadium that, I hope, will do much to unite the people of The Bahamas.  We owe a great debt of gratitude to the People’s Republic of China for their marvelous gift and for the construction of the stadium.

As a former athlete, track and field sporting events are very close to my heart.  For my part, I represent a generation of Bahamian athletes who in our time, could not have imagined or even dreamt of competing in a Bahamian stadium such as this one. It was therefore, not difficult for me, when the opportunity was presented to have made a decision to effect the construction of this stadium for and on behalf of Bahamian athletes who had made great strides in elevating and promoting our country in the field of international athletics.

The theme for these Games is “A Celebration of Caribbean Unity”, and while we have singled it out this year, I feel that Caribbean unity has always been the focus and the purpose of these games.  When Austin Sealy, of Barbados, started the games in 1972, they were meant to enhance relations between the English-Speaking countries of the Caribbean after the dissolution of the West Indies Federation. I understand that Austin maybe with us for these games and so I would take this opportunity to ask you to join me in saluting him in creating a competition which has become a model

Ladies and gentlemen, as we salute Austin, permit me to pay tribute to the late Teddy McCook of Jamaica, former president of the JAAA, the NACAC and the Area Representative for the North America, Central America and Caribbean Region on the Board of the International Athletic Federation who died only a few short weeks ago.

Please join me in a moment of silence in memory of Tommy Robinson and Teddy McCook. May these two icons of track and field in our region continue to rest in peace.

For 41 years, the CARIFTA Games has provided our region with the opportunity to engage in friendly competition that drives us to push ourselves and each other to excel.

Over the years our athletes have developed an appreciation and respect for one another at CARIFTA, which has been translated into admiration and support for each other whenever and wherever we perform on the international stage.

For example, there is no Caribbean person who did not celebrate with the Jamaicans when Usain Bolt won both the 100 and 200 metre sprints and there is no Caribbean person who did not rejoice when the Bahamian Golden Knights took the gold in the 4 x 400 relay in the 2012 Summer Olympics, running down team USA on the last leg of the relay to thunderous cheers and applause from the crowds.  Our sporting successes as a region help to unite us; we feel cohesion as a people with similar histories and culture.

Over the years, The Bahamas has had a rich history of success at these games.  Five Bahamian female athletes have had the distinction of being awarded the coveted Austin Sealy Award for the most outstanding performance over the years. They are MaryAnn Higgs, Lavern Eve, Pauline Davis-Thompson, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie and last year’s star, Anthonique Strachan. These five athletes are all here with us today to share in this historic event.

A Bahamian Junkanoo Rush Out at the official opening of Carifta Games 2013 in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo: Christopher Rahamin

Carifta has been the breeding ground for many of the region’s outstanding world class athletes, including World Record holders and Olympians Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake from Jamaica; last year’s CARIFTA Champion and Olympic Champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad; World Champions and Olympic Champions such as Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica, Kim Collins of St. Kitts & Nevis; Alleyne Francique and Kirani James of Grenada, Obadele Thompson of Barbados and our very own Tonique Williams-Darling as well as the original World and Olympic Championship Golden Girls of The Bahamas, Pauline Davis, Chandra Sturrup, Savetheda Fynes, Debbie Ferguson and Eldece Clarke.

That CARIFTA has been an integral part of producing so many world class athletes, speaks to the caliber of competition that is set here.  It also tells me, that many of the athletes, who will be competing over the next four days, represent the future of Caribbean athletics and some will be future World and Olympic Champions for the Caribbean.  It is vital that we continue to nurture young people who show new and surprising potential and talent for athletics.

For our part, the Bahamian Government is already in the advanced stages of planning a National Sports Academy, so that we can properly harness national talent, and ensure that our young athletes from throughout The Bahamas have the greatest opportunities made available to them.  Our region is already on the map, as a powerhouse in track and field sports and we would like to maintain that distinction.

We would like to acknowledge the presence of several of the executive management team of the IAAF and we invite them to extend our best wishes to Mr. Lamine Diack, President of the IAAF. I would particularly wish to thank them for awarding The Bahamas the honour to host the first ever World Relay Championships, which will be held right here at this venue next year.

Finally, I would like to wish all the athletes good luck in their events and I know that they will all perform to the best of their abilities for their countries.  To the fans, I know that you will enjoy four days of the best track and field that the region has to offer.

I now declare that these 42nd CARIFTA Games are officially open!

Thank you.  

 

Prime Minister of The Bahamas, the Rt Hon Perry G Christie presents to Mr. Sealy Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

The Official Opening Ceremony featured the National Youth Orchestra; National Dance Troup; National Youth Choir; Bahamas All Star Marching Band; a Parade of Athletes let by Marching Band; Assembly of Athletes on Center Field; the National Anthem; Invocation; and Remarks and Presentations.

The entertainment lineup featured: Visage House Band; Sinovia Pierre; Geno D; Veronica Bishop; D-Mac; All Star Song; Sound & Light Closing; and a Junkanoo Rush Out.

The events commence Saturday, March 30th and medal presentations will take place throughout the event with Closing Ceremony on Monday evening.

Bahamians are encouraged to come out in full force and support the athletes. Bahamian fans are asked to dress in aquamarine, gold and black (Or the theme colours for each night: Fri-black, Sat-white, Sun-aquamarine, Mon-gold).

Stay tuned for event coverage via internet on TheBahamasWeekly.com; BahamasAthletics.com and related pages on Facebook and Twitter. The official site for the Carifta 2013 games is here: http://www.carifta2013.com/

Check our FACEBOOK Page for more photos.

Related:

Carifta Games (Bahamas) 2013 Official Schedule of Events

2013 Carifta Games: Ready, Set GO!

Opening night of Carifta: Prime Minister Christie mingles with Team Bahamas. Photo: Azaleta Ishmael-Newry

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