Two years after receiving the rights to host the inaugural International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Relay Championships, The Bahamas is in the final stage of a long and often bumpy process to stage the biggest sporting event in the country's history.
With less than a month to go before the opening ceremony, venue repairs are on schedule to be completed on time, tickets are selling out quickly, and volunteer recruitment went well.
"It's a big day for us," IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2014 Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Managing Director Lionel Haven said. "This is the moment when we really do start getting ready for celebrating and welcoming the world."
On May 24 and 25, over 800 of the world's best athletes are expected to contest the 10 relay events which will be staged in the 15,000-seat Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, with both men and women competing in the 4x100 meters (m), 4x200m, 4x400m, 4x800m and 4x1,500m.
Last year in December, the National Sports Authority (NSA) engaged the services of Mondo out of Italy to reconstruct the track at the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The original track was a Class 2 track and to host the world relays, the track had to meet a Class 1 level.
NSA General Manager and LOC Senior Director of Venues Jeffery Beckles said: "We anticipate all repairs being completed in time for the Bahamas High School Relays 2014, which will be a test event for the world relays. The Bahamas High School Relays is also expected to act as a qualifier for a junior event happening on both days of the IAAF World Relays."
The Bahamas High School Relays is set for May 9 and 10 at the stadium, and will start an hour before the actual IAAF World Relays. In addition to the preparation of the track, Beckles said workers are also ensuring that all of the other amenities and auxiliary facilities being refurbished are completed and ready as well.
"We want to advise the general public that we will be closing several of our venues, so that contractors can complete their work on time and so that the facilities can be at the level that we promise for this event," said Beckles. "We want the people of The Bahamas to know that we are making every effort to ensure we have the best possible look and feel when the world comes here."
The primary venues that will be closed in the coming weeks for finishing touches are the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium, the old Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium and the Betty Kelly-Kenning National Swim Complex. Since the launch of ticket sales, Haven said patrons have been taking full advantage of the online and box office purchases.
"Up to today, we are at about 8,812 tickets that have been sold so far," he said. "General admission tickets, which are $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and bronze tickets, which are $20, are the only two options left for those wishing to attend."
Tickets for both days are available for purchase online at bahamasworldrelays.org and also the box office at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Haven said that the window for applications to be a volunteer at the event has closed, with a huge number of persons putting themselves forward for the opportunity.
A total of 1,200 applied, with the vast majority of applicants being Bahamian.
"The community's pride that the IAAF World Relays is being held in Nassau is profound, and there has been a great willingness to get involved to ensure the success of the event. There's no doubt, The Bahamas will be ready to welcome the many participants and visitors in the next 30 days," Haven said.
The event will have extensive television coverage and will be seen by millions of viewers around the world in more than 100 countries. Over 100 journalists and up to 30,000 spectators are anticipated to attend the event.

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