The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH he considers himself his biggest critic, Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown would give nothing less than a grade A to the organising and executing of his second annual Chris Brown Bahamas Invitational.

“With the help of the government, with the help of the local organising committee, with the help of the Bahamian fans and also the athletes, I must say we can give ourselves an A tonight,” Brown summed up on Saturday night at the conclusion of the ‘Catch the Fire’ one day meet at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

“It’s a blessing. When God has something for you, know one can take it away. Even though the past two years were two sad years, the athletes came out and they supported the event. I think it was bigger and better and I think that with the support that we need, it will continue to grow because it has a lot of room to grow as a young event.”

Brown, who opted not to compete in the meet this year, said he realises that there’s still a lot of room for improvement in moving forward to the third CBBI in 2017.

“We need to work on getting more sponsors on board, we need to work on getting the Bahamians more excited about the event and we have to work together so that when we come together, we could be ready at least a month out with everybody knowing their zone and just statying in them.”

The 34-year-old Brown was referring to one of two problems that the LOL had to deal with leading up to the start of competition on Saturday. But that the event is in the history books, Brown said he’s already looking at how to improve the event next year.

“The first year, we had about six individual medallists from the Olympics and the World Championship,” Brown said. “This year, we had about 27 current and former champions,” Brown said. ”We’re looking at bringing in some medallists, but I can’t outlook and forget my Bahamians athletes.

“The Bahamian athletes came out, showed their faces and they knew what was needed to do. But it was amazing. I had a great time and my family also had a great time.”

While he disappointed some of the fans who had showed up to watch him compete, Brown said their chances will come.

“Hopefully next year, I will consider it. We know that we have a LOC team in the place, who have been working with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, and so I expect to have a much bigger crowd of athletes coming here to compete,” Brown said. “I hope to be in a much better position to be able to compete next year.”

And having received the endorsement from Prime Minister Perry Christie and Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Dr Daniel Johnson during the opening ceremonies, Brown said he’s already started the ground work for the 2017 CBBI when he anticipate that a number of the athletes who competed on Saturday will be returning.