|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Apr 28, 2017 - 12:45:42 PM |
Photo: Kemuel Stubbs
|
Nassau, Bahamas - Forty-two countries, more than 1,000 athletes, thousands of track and field fans and The Bahamas as the host country made for the perfect ingredients for the third edition of the IAAF/BTC Bahamas World Relays held on April 21-22, 2017.
One of the most anticipated track and field events of the year, visitors, locals and athletes were not disappointed as the energising sounds of Junkanoo music and the aroma of authentic Bahamian food wafted through the stadium.
Several vendors selling authentically Bahamian products were also at the site to give attendees a taste of The Bahamas.
Valerie Percentie of Island Girls Delight said the tourists enjoyed their selection of fresh native food.
“Sales have been good. We’re very busy right now we have a backed-up line here waiting for seafood so we’re very busy,” Percentie said. “We’ve had a number of tourists here today especially the press from Great Britain who come for the fish and chips. It's grouper and not freshwater fish so they're having a real experience of native food,” she said.
First-time visitor Samantha Lloyd was impressed with the warmth of the Bahamian people.
Photo: Kemuel Stubbs
|
“So far it’s been absolutely brilliant from the time we arrived at the airport. I just can’t believe how friendly people are. This is the first time I’ve been to The Bahamas and you can’t help but embrace the people,” she said.
Lloyd also looked forward to the atmosphere in the stadium she had heard so much about.
“I’m looking forward to a kind of party atmosphere that I know the Bahamian people will bring to this fantastic stadium. I’ve covered athletics all over the world but I’m really looking forward to how specific it is going to be in terms of the atmosphere here tonight,” she said.
Spectators weren’t the only ones impressed with the atmosphere; athletes always enjoy the competition in paradise. Members of the Australia men 4x800 relay team admitted competing in The Bahamas is something they look forward to.
“It is awesome competing here; we always say it’s one of our favourite competitions each year. The atmosphere is pretty relaxed and we can’t complain about going to The Bahamas for a race,” said Joseph Ralph.
This year, Great Britain’s team arrived in Nassau, Bahamas a week before the competition.
Emily Diamond of the women’s 4x400 relay team said this time they were able to experience a lot more of the Bahamian culture.
Photo: Kemuel Stubbs
|
“For us, it is so nice. We’re used toBritishweather, but it’s been so nice and warm and it makes such a difference to compete in these conditions so that’s amazing for theBritishgirls to experience. On the other hand, the atmosphere and the crowd and the excitement that The Bahamas and Bahamian people have for athleticsisso lovely to see and it just makes running much easier and so much fun,” she said.
“I’d love to come back, I always look forward to this competition and I hope next year we can come back and qualify for the championships.”
While visitors were enthralled by the warm hospitality of The Bahamas, locals expressed how proud they are of the world class event.
Leslie and Remalia Knowles said hosting the relays shows that The Bahamas capabilities in more ways than one.
“I feel very thrilled, excited and very proud to be a Bahamian that we could put on such a great event and I think this is free advertising for the country because this is being shown all over the world and I think this is a great opportunity for us to show how hospitable we are and how we care and how we treat people who visit our shores,” Leslie said.
Virginia Kelly, Senior Marketing Director for Sports Tourism, said sporting events yield huge economic benefits to The Bahamas while giving visitors the chance to truly experience The Bahamas.
“The economic benefit of this event is going to be huge. We have more than a thousand athletes here and I’ve seen many visitors walking in through the fan zone so our hotels are filled. While this is going on, we know athletes are also coming in for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, which we will be hosting beginning April 27 through May 7, so there again our hotels are filling up which means lots of heads in beds,” Kelly said.
The Bahamas will host the IAAF World Relays again in 2019.
The event has been so successful that there are plans to make Nassau the home of the World Relays.
© Copyright 2017 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
