We could withdraw from Carifta – Blake - Jamaica might stay away from Carifta Games amid coronavirus scare

Jamaica Athletic Administrative Association (JAAA) president Dr Warren Blake says that the administration is considering to withdraw from the Carifta Games as the coronavirus continues to spread across the Caribbean.

Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton confirmed the first case of the virus in Jamaica yesterday, increasing the number of countries in the region with cases of the deadly virus to four. The other countries are the Dominican Republic, St Martin and St Berts.

As a result of the new development, the Government has already banned high schools from participating in the Penn Relays, scheduled for Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia next month. The future of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' High School Athletic Championships is in serious doubt. The Carifta Games is scheduled for next month in Bermuda and in light of the latest development at home, Blake said that option of not going to Bermuda entirely is on the table and will be among the major topics discussed when the administration meets today to select the team.

"That is a possibility," Blake responded, when asked if the association would go ahead with plans to take in the Carifta Games. "We will be discussing it tomorrow (today). We will have two meetings. One to select the Carifta team and we will be having our monthly executive meeting and that is going to be a topic that will be considered," Blake said.

Decision making

Blake said while they could make the decision on their own not to travel to Bermuda, he stated that they will also factor the position of the Bermudan government in their decision making.

"Jamaica could want to send its athletes and the other countries in the region not want to. So the decision is not going to be totally Jamaica's decision," he said.

At present, there are no reported case of the virus in Bermuda and its athletics association president Donna Raynor said yesterday that the games will go on as scheduled. Furthermore, she is optimistic that no countries will be forced to withdraw as a result of the virus. Blake said that whatever decision is taken it will be in the interest of the athletes.

"Track and field is something that we love and we want and look forward to it but the health of our athletes and officials and Jamaicans is paramount," he said.

There are over 114,000 confirmed cases globally of the coronavirus, which has caused postponements and cancellation of sporting events across the world.

In Europe, where the outbreak is surging, football leagues in Spain, Germany and France are playing games in empty stadiums, while Italy have taken more stringent measures in cancelling all sporting events until April as they attempt the contain the virus which has over 9,000 cases, the most in the continent.