Almost 1,000 athletes from about 40 countries ended up taking part in the IAAF/BTC World Relays Bahamas 2017 over the weekend, and thousands of fans attended the event over the two days of competition at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, supporting the various teams.
One of the most anticipated track and field meets of the year, visitors, locals and athletes were not disappointed, as the energizing sound of Junkanoo music and the aroma of authentic Bahamian food wafted through the stadium. Several vendors selling authentically Bahamian products at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) event 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 were very good. We were very busy. There was a backed-up line waiting for seafood so we were very busy," Percentie said. "We had a number of tourists come through, especially the press from Great Britain who came for the fish and chips. It was grouper and not freshwater fish so they had a real experience of native food."
First-time visitor Samantha Lloyd was impressed with the warmth of the Bahamian people.
"It was 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 was looking forward to a kind of party atmosphere that I know the Bahamian people would have brought to this fantastic stadium. I've covered athletics all over the world, but the atmosphere here at the stadium was another level," she said.
Spectators weren't the only ones impressed with the atmosphere; athletes always enjoy the competition in paradise. Members of the Australia men's 4x800 meters (m) relay team admitted competing in The Bahamas is something that they looked forward to.
"It is awesome competing here; we always say it's one of our favorite 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 The Bahamas a week before the competition. Emily Diamond, of the women's 4x400m relay team, said this time they were able to experience a lot more of the Bahamian culture.
"For us it is so nice. We're used to British weather, but it was so nice and warm and it made such a difference to compete in these conditions, so that was amazing for the British girls to experience. On the other hand, the atmosphere, and the crowd, and the excitement that The Bahamas and Bahamian people have for athletics is so lovely to see. 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 time, we can come back and qualify for the world championships."
While visitors were enthralled by the warm hospitality of The Bahamas, locals expressed how proud they were of the world-class event. Leslie and Remalia Knowles said hosting the world relays showed 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. 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," said Leslie Knowles.
Virginia Kelly,senior marketing director for sports tourism at the Ministry of Tourism, said sporting events yield huge economic benefits to The Bahamas while giving visitors a chance to truly experience The Bahamas.
"The economic benefit of this event is going to be huge. We had more than a thousand athletes here and I've seen many visitors walking in through the fan zone so our hotels were filled. While this was going on we know athletes were also coming in for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, 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 The Bahamas the home of the world relays.

Cable & Wireless Communications Limited (CWC), part owner of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), pointed out that any increase in value-added tax (VAT) or similar revenue-based taxes could have an "adverse impact" on the company's ability to maintain or increase revenue.
In the company's 2016 consolidated financial statements released recently, CWC stated that most of its revenue is subject to such taxes, underscoring its concern for any additional increases.
The Bahamas implemented VAT on January 1, 2015 at 7.5 percent, a rate that is relatively lower when compared to regional partners. There has not been any consideration from the Christie administration to increase VAT, despite it being a concern for many citizens.
The Christie administration collected over $1.14 billion in VAT revenue from 2015 to 2016.
Meanwhile, CWC reported that The Bahamas had 315,200 mobile subscribers as of December 31, 2016. To be clear, a mobile subscriber is an active subscriber identification module (SIM) card in service rather than services provided, according to CWC.
In terms of total revenue generating units (RGUs), the country had 83,100 for the ending period.
CWC also reported that BTC's revenue stood at $220.3 million and had net earnings of $39.7 million for the nine months ending December 31, 2016.
The telecoms giant touted its increase in mobile subscription revenue for the period in review, but pointed out that it was "partially offset" in anticipation of BeAliv coming into The Bahamas' telecommunications sector.
"Our mobile subscription revenue increased $10.5 million or 1.1 percent, primarily due to an increase in the average number of subscribers, mainly due to the positive impact of regulatory rate changes, the introduction of long-term evolution mobile services and various other network upgrades," said CWC.
"These positive impacts were partially offset by the negative impact of rate reductions in The Bahamas in anticipation of the commercial launch of mobile services by a competitor, which occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2016."
CWC's primary markets include Panama, Jamaica, The Bahamas, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

The National Dance Company of Guyana will recognize International Dance Day (IDD) with a dance production; in Nigeria, the Joel Dance Company will host their own event; while the Global Music Academy in Berlin has their agenda all set; and here in The Bahamas, Youth Culture Fest (YCF) coordinators Ann and Henry Higgins from Conquerors for Christ Junkanoo group will incorporate IDD celebrations into the third YCF celebration.
In the two previous YCF events, held just before Carnival, hundreds of school-aged youngsters -- from various organizations, including pre-schools, senior high schools and community groups -- showcased indigenous costumes during a parade, followed by a mini cultural show.
This year, instead of a parade, Higgins said approximately 2,500 young people will come together to be a part of the celebration of dance with 170 countries around the world, with the reading of the IDD message kicking off events followed by a spontaneous dance celebration, and the various groups taking to the stage to perform a dance of their own and showcase the culture of The Bahamas through their dance routines and costumes.
"International Dance Day does not discriminate against forms of dance, so all dance will be done -- liturgical, folk, modern, jazz, Junkanoo ... all forms of dance," said Ann.
"Youth Culture Fest will continue to celebrate all things Bahamian, but this year, it will be a little different from the past two years. We decided to join with CID UNESCO Congress of Dance to celebrate International Dance Day."
Youth Culture Fest and IDD celebrations take place on Saturday at Arawak Cay. The festivities are scheduled between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Founded in 1982, IDD seeks to promote the art of dance around the world. The founding body, the International Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute, selects a special personality each year to create an International Dance Day message to be shared around the world. Dance is practiced by both amateurs and professionals and is enjoyed everywhere. The special day is all about the history of dance and the recognition of its place in society.
Dance is both an art form and a method of communication in cultures around the world, and is practiced by millions of people.
This year the IDD Council joined with the World Food Program (WFP) and the government of the Principality of Monaco to create Dance to Zero Hunger, a project promoting healthy eating through dance and education. WFP offers meals to 80 million people in 80 countries.
Alkis Raftis, president of the International Dance Council, UNESCO, Paris, in a written address said healthy eating and dance go hand in hand in encouraging a healthy lifestyle, and that they want to promote food security and zero hunger in all countries.
"The project will promote food security, educate children about the importance of healthy eating, provide vocational opportunities, and advocate for achieving zero hunger through dance," said Raftis.

BTC was pleased to assist the Grand Bahamas Basketball Association, who will traveled to Marsh Harbour, Abaco to compete in the Bahamas Basketball Federation Round Robin to be held this weekend. The two (2) teams from both the A & B Division will be represent Grand Bahama and will compete against teams from the various Family Islands to determine the national winners.

The teams were also given back packs along with promotional items as an additional congratulations and support. 

Pictured left to right are; Ms. Leteasha Lord, BTC Senior Associate/Marketing & PR, Ms. Daphne McKinney, BTC Senior Associate/Directory, & Indirect Sales, Mr. Silbert Mills, Assistant Secretary/GBBA, Ms. Shenika Lafleur, Treasurer/GBBA, Mrs. Eldri Ferguson-Mackey, Vice President, BTC Northern Bahamas, Mr. Quinton "3oz" Hall, President/GBBA, Ms. Billy Ferguson, Secretary/GBBA and Mrs Ethel Laing, Senior Manager/ Commercial/Administration. (Photo credit BTC for Barefoot Marketing)

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