The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IN just two days, the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas is scheduled to get underway in the nation’s capital and opportunities to see the meet is at the public’s disposal, with many seats still available at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

On the opening day of competition on May 2 (Saturday) 686 tickets remain available  for the Eastern Grandstand at a cost of $12 and $7 for children.

A total of 505 bronze tickets are also available at $35, and 1,934 bleacher seats are available for $25.

As for May 3 (Sunday), the Eastern Grandstand is sold out and the only available seating are on bleachers, with 1,819 available.

Tickets can be purchased from the box office at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium or online at www.bahamasworldrelays.org. Box office hours have been extended from 10am to 8pm to accommodate patrons.

The Local Organising Committee has also set out to ensure that the pomp and pageantry surrounding the event remains uniquely Bahamian.

Fred Ferguson, LOC director of entertainment and the opening ceremony, outlined what the Bahamian public can expect from an entertainment perspective.

“For the second year, we have the honour of hosting this wonderful event and the opening sets the tone for everything that’s going to be happening. It’s going to be short and sweet, it’s going to showcase the Bahamas in its best light from the moment the military bands take centre field. They will be bringing the full majesty to the opening of the event,” Ferguson said.

“We cannot begin anything in the Bahamas without the spirit and sound of the heartbeat of the Bahamian people, which is junkanoo and that will be fused this year with Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival. It will be a berth of colours, rhythms and sounds. We have to remember this will be broadcasted around the world, so we need to make sure the Bahamas will be remembered for what we are as a people.”

Ferguson promised a performance by a joint military band featuring the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Royal Bahamas Defence Force, Her Majesty’s Prison, and many other surprises.

“You need to watch, most importantly you need to be there. Feel proud because the team we have put together to make sure the opening ceremonies works is going to be a wonderful team. It will be a short moment in time but it is going to be very powerful,” he said.

“With the IAAF, the opening is pretty much ritualistic but it doesn’t take away the room for the host country to showcase what they are. We are scheduled down to the second. So whatever we present in that short period of time needs to be powerful and to the point, beautiful and representative of who we are as a people.”