The 51st CARIFTA Games begins on Saturday, March 30th, and ends on Monday, April 1st. The games will be held at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in Queens Park, St. Georges, Grenada.
The CARIFTA Games and CARIFTA Aquatics Championships stand as the region's foremost athletics and swimming competitions, spotlighting the talent and skill of young athletes from various Caribbean nations.
19 Bermuda athletes have been invited to participate in these games in various events, and the team is led by returning medalists Octathlete J’Auza James and 5000-metre runner Jake Brislane. Also within the traveling athlete contingent is Junior Achievement and National Junior Athlete Sponsorship Program recipient Jaeda Grant.
The 37th CARIFTA Aquatics Championships will be held at the Betty Kelly-Kenning Aquatics Center in Nassau, Bahamas. The event will commence on Thursday, March 28th and conclude on Sunday, April 7th led by national coaches Ben Smith and Shona Palmer, several swimmers will be representing Bermuda for the first time in this international event, including Rory Shepperd, Scarlett Spurling, Dominic Wright, and Noah Maranzana.
The Aquatic event will also include a category for swimmers over 18 for the first time. Madelyn Moore and Logan Watson-Brown, veterans and multiple event CARIFTA Age Group Champions, will also be attending. The team will be accompanied by Team Managers, Sarah Wheddon and Martin Weekes.
"This year, we have the pleasure of witnessing some up-and-coming local athletes participate, and I eagerly anticipate cheering them on as they compete against our fellow Caribbean counterparts."
"Goal #2 of the National Sports Policy is to 'Achieve Sporting Excellence Regionally,’ and the CARIFTA games are an opportunity for our athletes to fulfill this goal. It will also inspire future generations of athletes by exposing them to high-level competition." said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Senator Owen Darrell, JP.
The CARIFTA Teams depart Wednesday, March 27th, and the Minister was at the airport to bid them farewell. Minister Darrell will also travel to Grenada to support our young Bermudian athletes at the CARIFTA Games.