Home|Sports|World Relays set for MaySports
Event launched; coming back to The Bahamas
Simba FrenchSend an emailAugust 3, 2023 135 2 minute readFacebookTwitterLinkedInShare via Email
For the first time since 2017, and for the fourth time in history, The Bahamas will be hosting the World Athletics Relays, this time set for May 4-5, 2024, at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The official launch of the World Relays Bahamas 2024 was held at the Thomas A. Robinson stadium yesterday.
The Bahamas hosted the first three editions which was held in 2014, 2015 and 2017, with the United State of America (USA) taking first place on the medal table, winning the ‘Golden Baton’ each time. The ‘Golden Baton’ is handed out to the meet’s overall winner. The last edition of the relays was held in 2021 in Chorzow, Poland.
Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Dr. Daniel Johnson said that it is good to have the meet back here.
“It’s still better in The Bahamas. So next year, May 4-5, we are going to welcome the world again to The Bahamas, the best place on Earth to be that week. I assure you, and I’d like to charge this today as a potential gift to the world, that we call from what we have, to where it may go and that is from Paradise to Paris for you romantics,” Johnson said. He was referencing the paradise, in relation to The Bahamas, going on the world stage to the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg said they are back on track with the ‘Sports in Paradise’ brand.
“This administration understands the exposure that sports can bring to this country, and we understand what events such as this will bring to the country,” he said. “With its economic boost, and with all that it brings, we’re looking forward to a great time. The road to paradise begins and you will see countries from all over the world coming here to partake in this meet. This meet is to ensure that they find a spot in the Olympics. Once again, we are just happy and elated and honored to have World Athletics Relays Bahamas back,” Bowleg said.
As for the projected cost of the event, Johnson said they will release the figure at a later date.
“We’re going to release an economic impact study. I do it every time I do one of these,” Johnson said.
Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) President Drumeco Archer said there was a general sense that The Bahamas wanted it back.
“We had an opportunity to host the 2019 edition, and for reasons that were beyond our control, we had to give it up,” he said. “The Bahamas has always been seen as an ideal location for the relays, and when we had an opportunity once again we were one of the bidders of this edition. I think that it was an overwhelming consideration for The Bahamas and I think that it has much to do with our location and proximity and the energy that we bring. They talk about the decibels and the sound impact when you’re in our stadium and we have the ability to have an event that’s unique to the world.”
Archer added that they will be looking at having two mascots at the meet and they have already named them – ‘Junkalou’ and ‘Junkasue’. They LOC will have a competition for the drawing of the mascot for persons 14 years and older. More details will be released in short order.