BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FOR the second time in as many years, young athletes in the region have been disheartened by the effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic, as organisers of the CARIFTA Games were forced to cancel the event, which was scheduled to be staged in Hamilton, Bermuda.
The cancellation was confirmed via a media statement from the North America, Central America and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC), which oversees the premier regional junior athletics meet.
In its statement, NACAC said that the decision was made based on the COVID-19 regulations outlined by the Government of Bermuda.
Those regulations include a hard 14-day quarantine for visitors who are not vaccinated, which is “non-negotiable, making it highly impractical for there to be an Under-17 category”.
The Games were scheduled for the Easter Weekend this year but were twice postponed due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.
Hamilton was scheduled to host the event in 2020, but pushed it back to this year due to the pandemic, and the NACAC Council regretted the cancellation of the 2021 Games.
It said, “For the second year running, young, hard-working athletes have been denied the opportunity to represent their respective territories at the world’s premier junior track and field competition.”
The body urged the athletes to continue training as the July 9-11 Under-19 and Under-23 meets are still on for San Jose, Costa Rico.
