The CARIFTA Games brings youth athletes from across the Caribbean region together for three days of competition.

The event, set to take place in Grand Cayman from 3 to 5 April, has drawn entries from 25 countries in the region. However, none of the teams have faced the same challenges as the team from Haiti.

In spite of the devastation the country suffered due to the massive earthquake that struck there, the team is still intent on participating at CARIFTA.

“[The Haitian team is] still going to be here in the Cayman Islands and we are very thankful for that. To help with their expenses we are going to be staging the CARIFTA flag and baton relay,” said Evelyn Rockett, co-chairperson of the CARIFTA local organising committee.

“We’re inviting all companies, schools, churches, families, individuals to sign up,” she said.

The event will start in Cayman Brac on Friday 26 March. From there the flag and baton will travel by plain to Grand Cayman.

“We’re hoping that the president [of the Cayman Islands Athletic Association, Rayle Roberts] will do that duty and bring it over in the plane and he’ll walk a few steps and then hand it off,” said Rockett.

The Grand Cayman leg of the relay will officially start at the Smith Road Oval, a venue that has a special place in the history of Cayman’s CARIFTA participation.

“It was the only field that we could train on in 1979,” recalled Rockett. That was the first year Cayman sent a team to the CARIFTA Games.

From there the flag will travel through the districts, travelling east to Rum Point, with every group running one leg, which will be approximately one mile.

“When [the flag] reaches Rum Point it will cross the ocean via sailboat which is another cultural part of Cayman’s history,” said Rockett.

After reaching land again, the flag will travel through West Bay and to the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.

“The baton and flag will not enter the stadium. That will be done on the opening ceremonies, so it will be brought to the outskirts of the stadium,” said Rockett.

News of the relay is the latest happening in the build-up to the Games as this month has seen a number of track meets.

One recent event was the Maples Interscholastic Meet last Friday at the Truman Bodden stadium featuring hundreds of students from the various secondary schools.

The relay event looks to build excitement for the Games and Rockett promises it will be well worth participating in.

“We’re all excited about this, we know it’s going to be a success, and we’re just asking the public to come out and really support us on this,” she said.

Rockett also promised a surprise climax to the event, to which not even Rayle Roberts, the athletics association president, is privy.

“It’s a secret, it’s going to be fantastic so please come out and support this event,” said Rockett.

To take part in the event, visit the CARIFTA 2010 website at carifta2010.ky. Entry forms will be available as of tomorrow, with entry fees set at CI$2 for students and CI$5 for adults.