– the 2020/2021 Games in Bermuda are officially cancelled
The 2021 CARIFTA Games have been cancelled, after a number of postponements over the past year. The North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) related on Monday evening that, for reasons ranging from vaccination to quarantine periods, to accommodation and possibly to omitting a section of the Games, the 49th edition of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) Games for 2021 (initially 2020) have had to be cancelled.
AAG President Aubrey Hutson
The decision, a difficult one for NACAC, had to be made since their hands were figuratively ‘tied’.
According to a missive from NACAC’s General Secretary Keith Joseph, the Local organising Committee for the Games in Bermuda has had no luck persuading the Government on a number of issues.
In the first instance, a 14-day quarantine for non-vaccinated visitors still stands, and would defeat the purpose of the 3-day Games. Additionally, the LOC shared, Government would not be able to contribute funds for the hosting of the Games, while accommodation on the island would be scarce.
“Unfortunately, we have carefully taken all factors into consideration, and are left with no option but to cancel the CARIFTA Games 2021,” the missive read. “The Bermuda authorities have made it clear that the 14-day mandatory quarantine for unvaccinated athletes is non-negotiable. While Bermuda allows athletes from 16 years to be vaccinated, the majority of our CARIFTA Family members are in countries where the authorities only allow vaccination for persons 18 years and older.”
During a recent interview with this publication, AAG President Aubrey Hutson shared a bit of what the LOC was trying to achieve.
“I know that they would have asked for some more time. The Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Bermuda asked for some more time, so that you can meet with the Government of Bermuda to either relax the protocols they have, particularly for athletes coming into Bermuda for the championships.”
Hutson continued, “But we still have all the French countries within the Caribbean, or the French territories, sorry, within the Caribbean, who are saying that they are not permitted to travel to Bermuda based on their mother country stopping world travel.”
Hutson also elaborated on the vaccine woes that would eliminate an entire section of the event. NACAC have since shared that they are not willing to host the Games without the under-17 group.
“If we look at vaccination, you know, there’s an age limit to whom you can give a vaccine…. CARIFTA, normally, we take athletes from as young as 13 years of age. So, you’re asking them to strike out an entire category, and even some into the under-20 categories, because it’s under-20 and under-17, under-17 being 16 years old and younger,” Hutson explained.
He elaborated, “So, that entire group will not be able to go, and then half of the under-20 will not be able to go as well. So, it’s dealing with (those) logistics, dealing with the hotel stock that is presently available in Bermuda, (that are) some of the burning issues that they have.”
The NACAC were adamant about not excluding the younger crop of athletes. They stated on the issue, “We cannot host the event without the Under 17s, who, from our vantage point, are as integral to the event as the U-20s. We are not agreed to having an edition of the Carifta Games that does not engage the traditional categories, and which disenfranchises a significant number of athletes.”
The event was initially slated for 2020 in Bermuda, but was pushed to 2021 in the same host nation following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the Games were moved from the Easter weekend this year to July, then to August before the cancellation. (Jemima Holmes)
