The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport has undergone a facelift and significant improvement in preparation for the North American, Central American, and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Championships set for August 19 to 21.

This major athletic meet will attract 400 world athletes and expects to set the stage for Grand Bahama to become “the events capital of the Bahamas.” It is the first time that a sports event of such magnitude is being hosted in Freeport.

The upgrades to the sports complex included the investment of $120,000 worth of equipment and track improvements by Mondo of over $50,000.

A NACAC official reported that 92 percent of the original 453 athletes surveyed will compete in Grand Bahama, including The Bahamas’ Shaunae Miller Uibo, and Shericka Jackson, of Jamaica, among others.

Deputy director of sports Norris Bain, who also serves as deputy director of NACAC, said the government made a significant investment to upgrade the facility.

“I commend and congratulate the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture under Minister Mario Bowleg, and the Minister for Grand Bahama Ginger Moxey for ensuring this event is pulled off on GB,” he said.

Mr Bain said that all the equipment acquired would become the property of the GB Sports Complex for future sports events.

“We have some legacy pieces that are being left here in GB. And so, we will not have to be sending for equipment from Nassau. And you are aware that GB has been dubbed ‘the events capital of The Bahamas,’ he said.

“We have over $120,000 worth of equipment that will become the property of this facility to manage, and the amount of work being done on the track by Mondo is well over $50,000. There has been a lot of painting, and we will continue to improve the facility to hold future events on the island.”

Mr Bain indicated that significant beautification in the area leading to the stadium has also been undertaken through the ‘Beautiful GB’ programme under the Ministry for Grand Bahama and the Grand Bahama Port Authority.

“It has been a great partnership to make sure we put our best foot forward because we want to attract other events here to this stadium. Every time an event comes here, it will always result in some legacy piece being left here for people of GB,” he said.

Mike Serralto, competition/technical director NACAC, said the NACAC Area Open Championships to be held in Grand Bahama is very significant.

“The NACAC Area Open Championship is one of the six areas of World Athletics,” he explained. “We have 400 athletes out of 453 from the original survey that decided to come here. It represents a 92 percent participation from the original survey. Normally, we have a drop of 10 to15 percent when we have a heavy season, and we have a very good number of participants that will be here.”

Team US has 80 competitors that account for the largest number of athletes, followed by Canada and Jamaica. The Bahamas has some 40 competitors.

According to Mr Serralto, the athletes competing at NACAC Championships in Grand Bahama will have the chance for automatic qualifying for the World Championships in Budapest.

It guarantees automatic qualifying for Pan American Games this coming year in Chile. And the relays, the top two teams also qualify for the Pan American Games.

Serralto said they are “hoping for a great championship”.

“The previous championship was the biggest one as far as records broken and as far as participation,” he said. “And in Toronto 2018, we had an even share of broken records between genders - we had 14 records broken in men and 14 in women. If we can break 28 here, it would be outstanding.”

Pharez Cooper, president of GBAAA, and co-chair of NACAA Championships, said this year’s NACAC championships in GB will have a major impact for us.

“This championship boasts of some of the best sprinters in the world, best throwers in the world. This region has been dubbed the best region for Track and Field, and we are glad to host the area champions, former area champions, world championships, and welcome everyone to GB,” he said.

Chevonia McBride, of the Ministry for Grand Bahama, and co-chair of the NACAC event, said that they are excited to have so many athletes participating in the Anita Doherty NACAC Open Championship 2022.

She said the event would provide a significant economic trickle-down effect on Grand Bahama for hotels, transportation, restaurants, shops, cab drivers, and tour operators.

“It is not only a track event, but also a cultural experience that we want the athletes to participate in,” she said.

Ms McBride said the event would kick off with a motorcade on Wednesday, August 17, at 4pm, from the Our Lucaya Hotel through the City of Freeport. It will end at the Port Lucaya Marketplace with a Cultural Explosion and a Meet and Greet with the athletes from Team Bahamas.

She thanked all the major sponsors, including Aliv and Cable Bahamas, Freeport Harbour, Freeport Container Port, GB Port Authority, FOCOL, Sawyer’s Fresh Market, City of Freeport Council, Curley Tail Services, and various government agencies, including the Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, and the Ministry of Grand Bahama.

Ms McBride encourages residents to support the event. Tickets are available at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex.