‘Very Excited About Games Being In Bermuda’
[Written by Don Burgess]
Bermuda beat out Guyana to be the hosts of the 2020 Carifta Games.
And Bermuda National Athletics Association President Donna Raynor is confident that our island “will put on an even better show than we did in 2012,” when Bermuda last hosted the contest.
Initially, four other countries put in bids – Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao, and French Guiana, but they all backed out.
Mrs Raynor said Guyana put its intention of bidding for the Games at the Carifta Congress on Monday. She told Bernews “Guyana gave a very passionate speech on why they wanted the Games.”
The BNAA President said countries wishing to host the Games should signal their intention three years in advance as they have to get their Government’s blessing first, which Bermuda received in 2017.
“We received the approval from Government that they would support the event. Fortunately, for us, we have the template from 2012, so there was not much that we had to do to pull together the information needed for the bid for 2020.”
Her son, Domico Watson, designed the logo for the 2020 Carifta. She added, “I had put together a very professional and informational presentation with our new Carifta logo which was very well received even to the point other countries want to use it as their bid template.”
She said, “We are very excited about the Games being held in Bermuda once again, and I have no doubt we will put on an even better show than we did in 2012.
“We have had so many persons in Bermuda asking us when we would have it again and several of the Caribbean countries wanting to come back to Bermuda.”
Mrs Raynor said it’s no coincidence that Bermuda has hosted Carifta eight years apart in 2004, 2012 and 2020.
“I try to bid for the years when it is the Olympic Games as people are really interested in athletics during that time of the year as they are looking to the Olympics, so they are already pumped up.”
Wonder why the other countries pulled out? This event probably going to be subsidized by taxpayers again…
This looks like something that is not going to end well for the taxpayer. What was the ROI on the previous games held in Bermuda?
I love Carifta! Coming to Bermuda in 2020 is great timing. Make sure there are several vendors around the stadium as it’s crowded in the canteen areas
Assuming we have a major sponsor like the Natwest Island Games, and have done the maths this could be good. But we do need a logo that reflects our true colours. Maybe put it out to tender?
I’m not worried about the logo, but sponsorship is going to be key to get. Can the BNAA get buy-in from the corporate community?
Hopefully Bermuda will have a stronger presence in the Sprint Events by then..
I’m not watching a bunch of amateur athletes go around a track. What a waste of money.
Don’t attend or watch…. sadfolks
These are teenagers, good lord. You must hate any kind of sport involving young people.
Ignorance is abound. Don’t want to watch don’t attend. You sound as ignorant as all those AC complainers that did not have the ability to see the bigger picture.
These are children. Not merely amateur athletes. Children who are being provided with an opportunity to be seen by college coaches for scholarship opportunities. Many athletes in Bermuda have received scholarships as a result of their involvement in this event.
ahhhh…these are teenagers we’re talking about. What is wrong with you!
It will be a failure unless every Bermudian benefits financially.