From Barbados Nation News

Willemstad – Hot, humid and ideal for the development of Caribbean athletes. –

That’s the assessment of conditions at the Ergilio Hato Stadion as more than 600 athletes and officials prepare for three days of exciting competition at the 2017 Flow CARIFTA Games in the Dutch isle of Curacao.

“It’s very humid and dry but everyone will have to compete in the same conditions, so it will be interesting to see how the athletes adapt,” said Ralston ‘Grandfather’ Henry, head coach of the British Virgin Islands.

Henry was busy overseeing the final tune-up for his 26-member national team ahead of Saturday’s opening ceremony.

“The CARIFTA Games were originally created as a developmental meet and this is exactly what we will get here in Curacao. I’m sure all of the athletes are very excited but they will have to adapt quickly and this experience will stand them in good stead as they seek future glory for themselves and their countries.”

Three-time Olympic sprinter and long jumper Kareem Streete-Thompson of the Cayman Islands, who is anchoring live coverage on Flow Sports along with noted sports journalist Terry Finisterre, Nadine Liverpool and Dalton Myers, said he was also excited to see what new talent emerges at the traditional Easter Weekend meet.

“I’m always thrilled to be at the CARIFTA Games. It’s one of the greatest junior meets in the world and I’m always excited to see what happens here. I’m really looking forward to witnessing some fabulous performances this weekend,” said Streete-Thompson, himself a two-time winner of the Austin Sealy Trophy for the most outstanding individual athlete at the CARIFTA Games.

He is still the CARIFTA Games record-holder in the Under-17 and Under-20 long jump.

“We have some very experienced competitors here who have competed at the world level and they are very keen to give of their best. They have come here prepared and they are ready to perform I’m pleased to be able to share their stories around the Caribbean and the globe via Flow Sports.” –

This is the first time that Curacao is playing host to the region’s premier athletics meet and Flow is ensuring that fans and customers will be in the front row with more than twenty hours of live coverage on Flow Sports Premier which will also be available as a ‘free preview’ for all Flow TV customers, while customers with a FlowID, regardless of the service they have with the company, will also be able to stream the Games live via the Flow Sports App.

“Flow Sports has established itself as the Caribbean’s leading sports network and our partnership with the CARIFTA Games further builds upon Flow’s other initiatives across the region. In addition to lending financial support, we are also very excited that our partnership with NACAC will allow us the opportunity to broadcast the Games across multiple platforms including our very own Flow Sports App and the Flow Sports Premier channel,” said Wendy McDonald, Flow’s senior director of communications – consumer group.

The CARIFTA Games were first held in 1972 and consists of track and field events including sprint races, hurdles, middle distance track events, jumping, throwing events and relays. The Games feature two categories of participants – Under-18 and Under-20 – and is considered one of the best development meets in world athletics.

Participating countries include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarteen, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. (PR)

IMAGES:

Barbadian athletes ready for FLOW CARIFTA Games. (Picture by Nigel Browne) – See more at:

Minister of Sports Stephen Lashley greets members of the Barbados Team at the FLOW CARIFTA Games.

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