The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSET

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

AS Team Bahamas gets set to depart this afternoon for the CARIFTA Track and Field Championships in St Kitts and Nevis, corporate Bahamas continues to show its support.

The team hosted its final meeting yesterday at the original Thomas A Robinson stadium, and the BAAA announced further partnerships with BTC, the Bahamas National Festival Commission and the Atlantis resort.

“As we know it’s more than just parental support, coaching support and administrative support, but we need that financial support,” said BAAA president Mike Sands. “Often times we extend our hands to corporate Bahamas and they are able to answer the call each and every time. “The success of our events and our efforts are directly attributed to the support that we as an association and federation receive from corporate Bahamas. We are always thankful and grateful to companies for heeding the call and coming to our aid to ensure that the athletes have the opportunity that they strive so hard to achieve.”

Each of the entities will provide a different aspect of assistance to the 53-member team.

“It is Team BTC and BTC has been one of the top sponsors of the BAAAs for a number of years and they make a sizeable contribution and will assist us in a variety of ways. They will assist us with incidentals, things the athletes will need and will also provide in shirts for our travel,” Sands said.

Said BTC representative LaShawn Cartwright: “I would like to say congratulations to the team for making it this far and we hope to see great things this weekend as you represent yourselves, your families and your country.”

For this afternoon’s charter flight to St Kitts and Nevis, the Atlantis resort will provide in flight meals for the contingent.

The regionally renowned CARIFTA Congos will make another appearance at this year’s event, thanks to a partnership with the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival.

“CARIFTA is not the same unless our junkanoo group is there. Our music is inspiring. Anyone that listens to junkanoo knows you can’t keep still when our music is playing so it is fitting for a track and field meet. The Local Organising Committee in St Kitts and Nevis contacted me asking us if we can ensure that the junkanoo music will be there to help the event in terms of its excitement,” Sands said.

“This year, for the first time, we have been fortunate to have the Congos promote our Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in St Kitts and that has been made possible by members of the committee.”

Roscoe Dames, chief executive officer of the Bahamas National Festival Commission, said the athletes will serve as ambassadors for the Bahamas and the highly anticipated Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival in May.

“It is really a delight and pleasure for Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival to be a part of this. You guys are going to the world, you’re going to St Kitts and we want the world to come to the Bahamas and see what we have to offer with Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival and what that is all about. CARIFTA is a great example of bringing the Caribbean together and some of the entertainers that will be coming to the Bahamas are from the Caribbean,” he said.

“So we want to show them, when you guys go down there and break the records, you treat them to an awesome show, but also you invite them back to the Bahamas so they can experience everything that we as a people have to offer the world. We are honoured to support this venture and when you set those records, let them know it is the heartbeat of the Junkanoo music.”