ST. LUCIA – This week will see the symbolic handing over of the George Odlum Stadium, in St. Lucia to the CARIFTA Local Organizing Committee, for the hosting of the April 10th to 13th, 2009 premier junior track and field event.
The southern venue has over the past several weeks undergone extensive work in order to meet and surpass acceptable standards for hosting the games in Saint Lucia for the first time.
St. Lucia’s Minister for Youth and Sport Honourable Lennard Spider Montoute says he is happy that the works are being delivered on schedule.
‘With regard to the peripheral works on the structures, pavilion, the plumbing, the air conditioning and so on, we are almost completed. In some cases the works are completed like the painting, the railings and so on are done. We are a little ahead of schedule as far as the completion of works at the stadium is concerned and so we are very happy with how our consultant engineer and our contractors went about executing the task,” the minister said.
Twenty six countries are lined up to participate in the games under the theme ‘Many Races one People.’
A welcome message posted on the CARIFTA official website, www.cariftagames2009.org, from the chairman of the local Organizing Committee Donovan Williams says “There is much excitement and anticipation emanating from the upcoming CARIFTA Games.”
