Carifta Games cancelled

The ongoing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic have once again resulted in the cancellation of the Carifta Games, the annual regional athletics tournament.

North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) general secretary Keith Joseph confirmed the cancellation of the 2021 edition yesterday, which was scheduled for Bermuda in August.

It is the second consecutive year that NACAC has had to scrap the games because of COVID-19 related issues. While last year's competition was cancelled, there was the hope of a successful 2021 staging with Bermuda being retained as the host country. However, in a statement released yesterday from Joseph, he said that the strict quarantine requirements of the country, as well as difficulties in accommodations and lack of additional financial support, left the local organising committee in an untenable situation that forced their hand.

"NACAC understands the impact that another cancellation of our premier annual junior competition will have on our young athletes. Unfortunately, we have carefully taken all factors into consideration and are left with no option but to cancel the Carifta Games 2021," Joseph said.

The staging of the 2021 Games has been plagued with issues, resulting in two previous postponements because of the surge in cases in Bermuda and the scheduling conflict created with the sitting of Caribbean Examination Council external exams, the latter of which pushed back the Games from a July to its final tentative date in August.

With no regional competition for local junior athletes for another year, the World Under 20 Championships in Kenya is the other major event for junior athletes on the calendar after the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships which starts today.