Small island state awarded 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games [1]
Monday, February 1, 2016 - 18:41. Updated on Thursday, April 14, 2016 - 15:08.
The Bahamas will host the sixth Commonwealth Youth Games from 19-23 July 2017 in the nation’s capital city of Nassau.
The games will see up to 1000 young athletes aged 14-18 compete in seven sports including Swimming, Track and Field, Boxing, Cycling, Judo, Rugby Sevens and Tennis with Judo being the newest addition to the games.
In a statement released on 29 January 2016, jubilant representatives from The Bahamas welcomed the news and Bahamas Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) Secretary General, Romell K. Knowles, thanked the executives and members of the Commonwealth Games Federation for the confidence placed in their country.
“The 6th edition of the Commonwealth Youth Games is by far the largest sporting event ever undertaken by The Bahamas as a host and we look forward to presenting the best Commonwealth Youth Games ever," said Mr Knowles.
Following the successful 2015 games held in Samoa, this will be the second time the games will be held on a small island developing state and the first Commonwealth Games to be held in the Caribbean for over 50 years, with the last Commonwealth Games held in 1966 in Kingston, Jamaica.
The Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin CBE said the Executive Board of the Commonwealth Games Federation unanimously voted for the Bahamas to host the next games.
“The Commonwealth Youth Games are a unique and empowering opportunity to celebrate and engage young people on the level playing field of sport. I congratulate and commend the Bahamas Bid Committee for their passion, commitment and expertise and look forward to helping realise their dream of an impactful and inspiring Games for the Bahamas, the Caribbean and the Commonwealth,” said Mr Martin.
The games celebration will be inspired by the world-famous carnival parades and promises to be rich and colourful.
The Bahamas is located 50 miles from Florida, USA, and consists of 700 islands of which 30 are inhabited by a population of under 400,000.