The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the 2016 CARIFTA Games are anticipating a record ­breaking participation of around 800 in Grenada next March. The athletics and football stadium, constructed with assistance from China, will be the hub of sporting events in the first quarter of the New Year. The CARIFTA Games Trials, National Relay Meet, CONCACAF Under­17 Girls’ Football Tournament, National Primary Schools’ Athletics Championships, Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships and CARIFTA Games, among others. Photo: Provided

NACAC President Victor Lopez said the interest is building and the games could surpass expectations. 'There are charter flights from the Bahamas, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago and no less than 20 coaches from colleges in the United States. The impact to the economy will be high.' Photo: Provided

The LOC is estimating about 800 athletes and officials representing 27 nations for the Games scheduled for March 26­ 28, 2016.

“All 27 countries have indicated that they would be participating in the games. Everyone wants to come to Grenada,” said Veda Bruno­ Victor, LOC Chair.

Bruno­ Victor was among officials who witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) and the CARIFTA Games 2016 LOC.

NACAC President Victor Lopez and Charles George, President of the Grenada Athletics Association (GAA), signed the LOC Contract.

Lopez, who was accompanied by Alain Jean Pierre, NACAC Treasurer, said that the interest is building and the games could surpass expectations. “There are charter flights from the Bahamas, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago and no less than 20 coaches from colleges in the United States. The impact to the economy will be high.”

Lopez added that “The whole world will be tuned in that particular weekend. Hopefully we are able to take the television production outside of the hemisphere and I mean Africa, Asia, Europe and so forth.”

Confirming that Sixth Gear Studios of Barbados will provide the HD Broadcast of the Games, Bruno ­Victor said there will be a series of training programmes for officials in the New Year. “We’re going to do, through our Olympic Committee, some training early next year for the officials that will run the games. We want to ensure that our officials are on par and up to ­date,” she said.

The NACAC officials and members of the LOC also toured the soon to be unveiled athletics stadium and other facilities to be used during the CARIFTA Games. Sports Minister Emmalin Pierre confirmed that the stadium will be opened with a ceremony on January 23, 2016. The Minister anticipates a large turnout of nationals to the opening which will also feature sporting events.

The athletics and football stadium, constructed with assistance from China, will be the hub of sporting events in the first quarter of the New Year. The CARIFTA Games Trials, National Relay Meet, CONCACAF Under­17 Girls’ Football Tournament, National Primary Schools’ Athletics Championships, Secondary Schools’ Athletics Championships and CARIFTA Games, among others.