$1.2M for CAC Games

by SHERRYLYN A. TOPPINAPPROXIMATELY 245 athletes and officials, at a cost of $1.2 million, have been short-listed by the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) to represent the island at the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games.The games will be held from July 17 to August 1 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico and Barbados will have athletes in 22 disciplines. Squash will be held in Bogota, Colombia.Chef de mission Craig Archer told the media during a briefing yesterday at the Olympic Centre, that the BOA was delighted to be sending such a large contingent.He noted that in 2006, Barbados won 19 medals, including six gold medals, and some of the island’s top athletes like World champion Ryan Brathwaite and fellow Olympians Nicky Neckles, Bradley Ally and Barry Forde would be among the medal contenders in the contingent.“These are the games where we are confidently expecting to see Barbadian athletes climb to the top of the podium, see the Barbados flag raised and hear the anthem played, signifying the winning of gold medals. We expect to do quite well even though we are a tiny nation,” Archer said.“We expect our athletes to be very competitive. Not all of the athletes that leave our shores will win a medal, but we expect them to do their country proud (and), achieve personal bests.”BOA president Steve Stoute said Barbados’ chances of winning medals also increased since regional powerhouse Cuba would not be participating.“While that would be a blow to the overall competition, it would make things a bit easier for countries like Barbados to be in the medals, specifically track and field, boxing and so on where the Cubans are very powerful,” Stoute said.However, the president admitted that the quality of preparation for some teams had to be scaled back or was compromised because of their current financial situation. The weightlifters and cyclists both attended Pan American Championships recently to prepare, and both the men’s and women’s hockey teams will spend a week in Canada getting much-needed match practice. However, other sports weren’t as fortunate.“It has been a heavy financial strain. Our affiliates have felt that strain as well because we haven’t been able to provide the assistance that we would normally provide,” Stoute admitted.“Last year and this year we have been very conservative in our spending and built up a reserve last year in order that we could meet some of the expenditure this year. Next year we have the Pan American Games, so it will not be as heavy a strain financially.”Stoute expressed thanks to the Sports and Arts Promotion Fund which provided support to the tune of $500 000, noting that without them, they would be unable to send as many competitors as they would like. He also appealed to corporate Barbados to follow the example of the Barbados Port Inc. and help support the Olympic movement.The deadline for the submission of names to the organisers is June 17 and the numbers will be reduced if athletes don’t meet the set criteria.