As aspiring CARIFTA athletes get one last chance this weekend to join Cayman’s CARIFTA team, the local organising committee is hard at work trying to bring together past CARIFTA athletes as well.

Over the years the event has touched many lives in Cayman, with strong friendships being forged in the fires of competition. Approximately 150 athletes have taken to the track and field for Cayman and hosting the event in Cayman over the Easter long weekend presents the perfect opportunity to bring these athletes back together.

Since Cayman’s first participation in 1979 the Islands’ participants have gone on to become Olympians, sports administrators and a winner of the Young Caymanian Leadership Award.

When Cayman was awarded the 2010 CARIFTA Games, it was immediately decided that the former athletes should have a role to play in the event. Of course, a number of them are already involved in the organisation of the event, including local organising committee President Rayle Roberts and Deputy Chairperson Evelyn Rockett are both former CARIFTA athletes.

Past CARIFTA athletes are asked to gather at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in the centre of the athletics track on Monday, 22 March at 5.30pm. The CARIFTA local organising committee will have a group picture taken, while past athletes will have a chance to renew old friendships.

It is hoped that the past athletes will be able to inspire the current crop of athletes to do their best when CARIFTA 2010 rolls around, while also serving as role models for younger athletes and sharing how representing Cayman changed them.

For more information, contact the CARIFTA office at carifta2010@gmail.com or 747-2220