TRACK and field’s world governing body, the IAAF, has given the thumbs up to the progress so far being made in preparation for this year’s IAAF World Relays set for the T. Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas on April 22 and 23.The Bahamas hosted the two previous world relays in 2014 and 2015.
The county will also host the 2019 edition and is hoping it will be selected for 2021. A team from the IAAF visited the island earlier this week and based on their reactions, things are looking good for the Caribbean island.
Carlo de Angeli, the IAAF Head of Event Operations said he was impressed with what he has seen on his visit.
“We can honestly say we are pleased with what we have seen so far,” de Angeli told the Nassau Guardian.
“There was a demand for this event and the IAAF decided to have a test run and we are happy that the Bahamas decided to come on board with us. And we have to thank the Bahamas for hosting the past events so well and making them successful.”
The World Relays is a qualifying event for the sprint and mile relays for the IAAF World Championships in London in August, but for Dr Daniel Johnson, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, it means even more, especially since the country is gunning to host in 2021.
“We know that the two first events were test events. The first was just to see if we could stage such an event, and the second, which consisted of an all-Bahamian team, pulled off an even more spectacular event,” he said.
“That was said by the people attending, not by us. Now what I can say is that we have signed off on 2019, we are going after 2021.”(Sportsmax.com)