The Bermuda National Athletics Association will meet with the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association next month to decide whether the delayed Carifta Games will go ahead on island in April.

The 49th Games were postponed in March because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the first time the Games have been postponed since they began in Barbados in 1972.

It was agreed that Bermuda would remain as the hosts, with the 2021 Games taking place from April 2 to 5. Guyana, who were to host the 2021 Games, will now stage the event in 2022 which will mark both the 50th anniversary of the Games.

“We’re supposed to be meeting with NACAC president and general secretary in December when we’ll make a decision,” revealed Donna Raynor, president of the Bermuda National Athletics Association and chairwoman of Carifta Games 2021.

“From our standpoint we would like to have it, but it is probably not going to be as per normal. We’ll make a decision in December on what it will possibly look like.”

The 2020 Games were called off three weeks prior to the opening ceremony. A new 400 metre track had just been laid and Bermuda had the final plans in place to host athletes and officials from 27 Caribbean countries, the fifth time the island would have hosted the Carifta Games.

A recent increase in Covid-19 cases will no doubt have the local organising committee watching developments very closely, especially with April just over four months away.

Recently they suffered another setback in their planning with the announcement that Fairmont Southampton, their host hotel, would be closing for 18 months for extensive renovations.

“We’re paying attention to what’s going on as part of our decision in December,” Raynor said. “With the Southampton Princess closed, it is a matter of us looking at accommodations when we decide how many athletes are coming.”

It was also announced this week that the inaugural Caribbean Games, which were set to be held in Guadeloupe from June 30 to July 4 next year, has been postponed because of the impact of Covid-19. The Games will take place in 2022 at a date still to be confirmed.

The Games, which will be held every four years, will cater to under-23 athletes in athletics, netball and swimming.