For the first time in the 48-year history of the Carifta Games, the meet has been cancelled.

In a press release, yesterday, North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) president Mike Sands announced the decision to call off Carifta 2020, which was scheduled to be staged in Bermuda. The Bahamian explained that the current global situation forced the NACAC executive to pull the plug on the regional junior championships.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and its overall impact on the host country as well as all members of the Carifta Family. The impact on government and private sector plans and budgets for 2020 and perhaps, beyond. Uncertainty in respect of the re-convening of international travel.”

Carifta 2020 was originally scheduled for Easter weekend, but was postponed indefinitely in the wake of the novel coronavirus outbreak. There had been speculation about the possibility of an August staging of the Games. However, in light of what currently pertains throughout the region, that option proved to be impractical.

“Closure of schools and sports facilities,” said Sands, “thereby impacting athletes’ ability to train and adequately prepare for a delayed edition of the Carifta Games in 2020. Delayed examinations for students at the pre-college stage of their careers.”

The NACAC executive also deemed it prudent to follow the example of the sport’s global governing body.

“World Athletics has already announced the postponement and/or cancellation of several of its own competitions for 2020, including the World Junior (U-20) Championships.”

Sands said the NACAC plan is for Bermuda to host Carifta 2021, next Easter. “The executive thought that the aforementioned decision would still mean that Bermuda would host the 49th edition of our Carifta Games, leaving the door open for Guyana to continue planning to host the 50th anniversary edition but in 2022.

“Discussions have begun with all stakeholders in Guyana,” the NACAC president explained, “craving their understanding and support, given that Bermuda did nothing to lose the annual event and is therefore deserving of being given the opportunity to make good on its commitment, albeit, one year later “.

Sands said the NACAC executive is convinced that cancellation of Carifta 2020 “is in the best collective interest “of the Carifta family, given the prevailing circumstances.

“We have an excellent opportunity to work more deliberately together, to show to the world that our annual Carifta Games are indeed, the very best junior track and field competition, globally.”

NACAC treasurer and National Association of Athletics Administrations of Trinidad and Tobago (NAAATT) president Ephraim Serrette told the Express that while the decision to cancel Carifta 2020 was necessary, he sympathises with athletes who will move into the senior ranks next year.

“This is most unfortunate for final-year junior athletes who were hoping to address scouts at the Carifta Games. However, we had to put health first. But there are some who are still getting scholarships. The NAAATT website is very updated, and all the data on performances is there.”

Kelsey Daniel, Dominic Cole and Antonia Sealy are among the home-based athletes who had been selected on the T&T team for Carifta 2020 but will be out of the junior category in 2021. At Carifta 2019, in Cayman Islands, Sealy seized silver in the girls’ Under-20 javelin and girls’ open heptathlon, while Daniel earned boys’ Under-20 triple jump silver and long jump bronze.