The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

LONDON: While he's never had the opportunity to compete in England, Carl Oliver said he's delighted to be here at the 16th International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) World Championships as the co-manager for Team Bahamas.

Oliver, a former member of the men's 4 x 400m relay team that won the gold in Edmonton, Canada in 2001 and the bronze in 2003 in Saint-Denis, said he likes what he's seen so far after the first day of practice here on Wednesday.

"We had a meeting this morning with the athletes and everybody has settled in," said Oliver, who is working along with Maybeline Miller as head of the delegation.

"We have no issues with the accommodations, but it is very cold and we expect it will get better tomorrow (today)."

After getting over the jet lag from their travel here on Monday, Oliver said the team went through a shake out and they are just waiting for sprinter Warren Fraser and quarter-miler Steven Gardiner to get the ball rolling on Friday.

"We're good. Everybody is looking good," he said. "It was a little bit chilly today, but all of the athletes, maybe with the exception of one or two of the juniors, have been to Europe before so they are able to make the adjustments.

"But everybody is in good spirits.

"They are all happy to be here and we are expecting the best from all of the athletes who are here."

All but four of the athletes named to the 24-member team are in the games village. Officials are still waiting on the arrival of quarter-milers Michael Mathieu, Christine Amertil, Shaquania Dorsett and high jumper Donald Thomas.

They should complete the team here by the weekend.

As a former World Championship athlete, Oliver said he's relying on his experience to expose the athletes to some of the things that they need to be in a position to compete at their best.

"I just told them, especially the young ladies, that I've been to these events before and they will develop some anxiety, but that's expected," he said. "They just need to go out there and do their best."

When the opening ceremonies are held on Friday at 1:20pm ET, there won't be any march past of athletes. Instead, they will sit in the stands with the evening session to follow.

The competition will get underway for Team Bahamas during the first session of the championships when Fraser will be in one of the preliminaries of the men's 100m. That starts at 3:20pm.

The start list, however, has not yet been released.

On Saturday, national record holder Steven Gardiner will participate in the first round of the men's 400m that begins at 5:45am. The men's 100m semi-final will be contested at 2:05pm with the final scheduled for 3:45pm.

The weekend will conclude with Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo contesting the first of her two events in her signature 400m when the first round starts at 6:55am on Sunday.

The men's 400m semi-final will take place around 2:40pm.

The remainder of the team will be in action from Monday through Sunday, August 13 when the championships come to a close.