CARIFTA Games organisers have received the thumbs-up in preparation for the regional junior athletics showpiece in Easter.

Andrew Magloire ? a technical delegate from the Executive Council of the Central American & Caribbean (CAC) Athletic Confederation ? yesterday declared Bermuda virtually ready to host the 34th edition of the annual meet.

?You are more than ready. As I was saying this morning, I don?t think it?s a matter of having to do this or do that, I think you?re ready to host the Games.

?You have also been able to communicate the enthusiasm and zeal for the championships, not only to those around you, but also to the persons whose assistance you?ve had to solicit.

?This is the kind of enthusiasm I would like all the countries in the Caribbean to have.

?What I think you have done is set a new . . . standard that other territories will have to try to match,? he said, speaking at the official promotional launch for the Games yesterday at the Cabinet Office.

Magloire, who is on the Island to assess Bermuda?s preparedness to stage CARIFTA, lauded the Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) for having set up ?the platform for a first-class competition?.

He noted that he had visited several Government departments and other agencies involved in hosting the Games and all were ready to fulfil their respective roles.

?I don?t see anything that can prevent you from hosting a first-class CARIFTA Games in Bermuda,? said the technical delegate who will report his findings to the CAC Executive Council upon his return to the Caribbean.

In her presentation, BTFA president Judy Simmons disclosed that seven Bermudian athletes had so far qualified to compete at the Games which the Island is holding for the first time since 1980.

They are: James Bergl (discus and shot putt), Derek Golding (discus), Zindzi Swan (high jump and long jump), Brittany Marshall (discus and shot putt) Latroya Darrell (triple jump and high jump), Deanna Lightbourne (400 and 800 metres) and Tristan Francis (100 metres).

A number of other athletes, she added, were on the verge of qualification and would be continuing in their efforts to make the required marks.

Simmons pointed out that, so far, ?only athletes who are training in the national squad have achieved standards in any of the local meets held to date?.

Preliminary Games entries have been received from 20 countries and commitments have come from two others. This, said the president, meant more than 300 athletes and officials were confirmed to participate in the Games.

She also told the gathering that the BTFA had secured more than $300,000 in ?committed sponsorship?. In addition to this, John Barritt & Son Ltd had agreed to sponsor all of the beverages needed for CARIFTA.

Sports Minister Dale Butler stressed the importance of the Games, pointing out that certain local athletes who first came to prominence at CARIFTA went on to greater heights in their disciplines. In that regard, he cited former national triple and high jump champions Brian Wellman and Clarance (Nicky) Saunders respectively.

He urged Bermudians to help ensure this ?enormous challenge? came to successful fruition as it would impact the Island?s ability to stage future major athletic events.