Caribbean Games 2009 – One-year countdown

On the day of publication of this particular column, Friday 25 July 2008, there will be 354 days to go before the official Opening Ceremony of the Inaugural Caribbean Games.
On Sunday 13 July 2008 the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) teamed up with the Organising Committee of the Caribbean Games (OCCG) to observe the one year countdown to the Inaugural Caribbean Games scheduled for the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago during the period 13 – 19 July 2009.
The observance of the milestone took the form of a media briefing at the Secretariat of the Caribbean Games 2009 nestled in the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The momentous nature of the occasion was not lost on the local media. Not only were the media present but also their interest was so piqued that several interviews on radio and television took place in the days following the observance.
There is little doubt that the observance of the one-year countdown brought significant interest in the Inaugural Caribbean Games and in the preparatory exercise.

Caricom’s support
The Caricom Heads of Government have all indicated their interest in and support for the Inaugural Caribbean Games as well as for the concept of such a major sporting event being convened quadrennially in the region.
The leaders of Caricom at their most recent Conference in Antigua and Barbuda included their show of support in the Final Communiqué that emerged.