The 2020 Carifta Games will not be staged on Easter weekend. The meet was scheduled for April 10-13 in Bermuda, but has been postponed because of concerns over the coronavirus.

In a statement, early yesterday, North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) president Mike Sands said no new date has yet been set for the regional junior championships.

“Your NACAC Executive Board, in collaboration with the Bermuda National Athletics Association will continue to monitor all future developments with the view of the Bermuda 2020 CARIFTA Games being placed back on the calendar at the earliest possible date shortly after an all clear is given to resume normalcy.

“This decision was not taken lightly,” the Bahamian continued, “but in the best interest of all stakeholders against the backdrop of the rapidly evolving situation with regard to the COVID-19 across the globe and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring a global pandemic, which has led several countries, regardless of size, political ideology or wealth, to close their borders, cease travel and stop mass gatherings.”

Sands said that since the decision taken by NACAC is postponement of the Carifta Games, and not cancellation, member countries need to ensure that their teams continue preparation.

“With this in mind I urge you to maintain your athletes’ fitness level for this eventuality.”

NACAC treasurer and National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAATT) president Ephraim Serrette told the Express that NACAC’s decision was absolutely necessary.

“We have to protect our athletes and officials. Everybody has to take it seriously. The NBA has been suspended, the Olympic Games is up in the air. We took all those things into consideration. Bermuda had no reported cases, but there would have been people travelling through New York to get to the Games.”

On Wednesday, the Antigua and Barbuda Government announced the country’s withdrawal from the 2020 Carifta Games.

“From the NAAATT perspective, we were also looking at it,” Serrette explained. “But being on the NACAC Board, I was aware of what was going on.

“We have to communicate with the clubs,” the NAAATT president continued, “and hope that the athletes stay in shape. But I can’t say if we’ll be able to have the competitions for the athletes to stay fit. They may have to do it on their own until better can be done.”

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championship meet, scheduled for yesterday and today in New Mexico, USA, has been cancelled.

Among the athletes affected are T&T’s Tyra Gittens and Akanni Hislop. Gittens, a student at Texas A&M University, was expected to compete in the women’s pentathlon as well as the individual high jump and long jump events, while Hislop, a senior at Louisiana State University (LSU), was listed for action in the men’s 200 metres.