All Carifta swim events to take place at stadium

The Bournemouth Bath swim pool will not be used during this weekend's 25th Carifta Swimming Championships as originally planned.

The pool, which is located on Michael Manley Boulevard in Kingston, has been overlooked due to the withdrawal of the water polo and synchronised swim teams from Curacao.

These teams were expected to provide stiff competition for Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago in the respective competitions, but with their withdrawal and the reduction of participants, the organisers saw it fit to move the competitions to the main National Stadium pool. It will now singularly host the four-day championship, which primarily includes swimming, starting on Saturday and ending next week Tuesday.

"It's a disappointment that we will not be able to use the Bournemouth Bath this time around, but it is no fault of ours. We just have to use it as an opportunity to streamline things and improve on the logistics of the championship," said John Eyre, president of the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ).

Age-group championship

The age-group championship, which is similar in form and origin to the track and field event, the CARIFTA Games, and is held under the auspices of the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC), will feature 14 countries, including defending champions Trinidad and Tobago.

The championship was held last year in Aruba.

"We had been unable to get into the pool until last week. But the swimmers are adapting and with the gradual return of our overseas-based swimmers, I am looking forward to outstanding performances," said Jamaica's coach, Jackie Walters.

"When you have the home crowd behind you, it's a little more pressure, but we hope to use it to our advantage. Last year we came fifth and this year we can finish at least third," she added.

The teams will start arriving tomorrow, with The Bahamas and Guadeloupe scheduled first for arrival.

The championship is being sponsored by telecommunications company Flow to the tune of $2 million, and technology-firm Innovative Corporate Solutions Limited, which has committed $1.65 million.

Other sponsors include Supreme Ventures, Reggae Jammin', JUTC, Knutsford Court Hotel, Cari-Med, Berger Paints, Malta and Top Klass Events.