President of the Bermuda National Athletics Association Donna Raynor has confirmed the fate of this year’s CARIFTA Games remains in the balance but has not yet been cancelled over the threat of the coronavirus.

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on sporting events across the globe, with several already cancelled or postponed.  The 2020 CARIFTA Games is scheduled for Bermuda next month but the threat of the spread of the virus has put also put that staging in doubt.

“Basically, what we are in Bermuda is keeping a close on what has been happening with the Coronavirus, not only in Bermuda but in the Caribbean islands as well,” Raynor told the SportsMax Zone in an exclusive interview.

“One of our local organising committee members sits on the Health Organisation Committee of Bermuda and they are having a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) to discuss all of the sporting events that are taking place in Bermuda,” she added.

“We also have the international triathlon set to take place on the Friday after CARIFTA and of course that will involve several athletes from the US, Europe and so forth.  The only saving grace is that most of our athletes are coming from the Caribbean and on charters.  So far Bermuda hasn’t had anybody that has tested positive, but we cannot be confident it will take place.  We are ready to host the Games but we have to be directed by our government.”    

Initially, Raynor admitted that the body had been confident of being able to stage the event due to the limited footprint of the virus in the Caribbean so far.  With Jamaica confirming its first case on Wednesday and Canadian authorities claiming that one of their latest cases travelled to the country from Trinidad and Tobago, things could be about to change.  Trinidad and Tobago have, however, reported no cases so far.  The CARIFTA Games have been staged every year at various countries around the region since 1972.

“It changes the ballgame (Jamaica positive test).  Today it’s Jamaica, tomorrow it could be the Bahamas, the day after that Bermuda.  So that’s definitely shaken our confidence and we definitely cannot say it will take place.”