THE Bahamas is unlikely to host the IAAF World Relays beyond 2019 and President of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA)Rosamunde Carey thinks that Jamaica would make perfect hosts.

The Bahamas hosted the first ever World Relays in 2014 and again in 2015. They also hosted the 2017 edition and will be hosts again in 2019. However, going forward, Carey believes financial constraints will most likely see the World Relays leave the Bahamas, at least for a few years.

“We know that we have the expertise, we have the experience, we have the skill set. We know what it takes to build the brand and we know that 2019 will possibly be the last one for us,” Carey revealed to SportsMax.TV on Tuesday.

“What we have asked the IAAF is that given the financial constraints, we thought it would be prudent with the Government’s blessing, to rotate it within the Caribbean. We are the best people to host the World Relays in the Caribbean region. So the thought was to send it out and cycle it and then it comes back to the home, the birthplace of the world relays, every two cycles.”

Recent reports suggest that Jamaica could be in line to host the relays. Jamaica’s sports minister Olivia Grange revealed last week that the Government was in discussions to host either the Relays or another major youth championship. However, the minister was reluctant to reveal any detail on those discussions.

Carey believes that Jamaica, who has hosted the 2002 World Juniors and hosts two international track meets each year, is more than ready to play host to the World Relays.
“Absolutely! Jamaica is our sister country and they have been known to host international meets and so hosting the World Relays would not be a stretch,” she said.

She said hosting the World Relays provided a major boost to the Bahamian economy.
“The World Relays has had a significant impact on the Bahamas and how the Bahamas is advertised around the world, and it brings people from all around the world,” she said.

“We are televised into 214 countries in different territories so you see, the exposure is exponential in the millions of persons that would be able to see the Bahamas. So, the economic impact is there so we still excited about it. It’s an event that can only grow, the potential is there and we have the niche.”

However, for now being permanent hosts might be too expensive.
“If it was just the IAAF and the BAAA’s alone, we would love to be the home of the World Relays which was the intent of the previous administration. Dr Danny Johnson, who was the previous minister of sports, that was his goal, that is what he went to the IAAF with,” said Carey.

“We now have a new administration and they have their fiscal constraints and we do appreciate that and we do understand that and we understand that as a country we have to do what is right for the people of the Bahamas.” (SportsMax))