Minister praises Carifta athletes' accomplishments

Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen and, most importantly, Carifta Athletes!

It is a privilege and an honor for me to be here on behalf of R Wayne Scott, Minister of Community and Cultural Development, to welcome you back home from the 2013 Carifta Games.  I understand that there were over 600 Track and Field athletes competing in the Bahamas over a three day period.   Athletes, your accomplishments, among formidable competition, has been nothing short of remarkable.  You have been in exceptional form during these Games, winning a grand total of 10 medals, five of which have been in Track & Field.     

I think it is fair to say that everyone in Bermuda has been tracking your progress on every form of communication available… whether it be internet, radio, newspaper, television, telephone or tell a friend!  Everybody is talking about you!  You have succeeded in your mission, and we have come here this evening to  honor you.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, please acknowledge our 2013 Carifta Games medal winners who I will ask to come forward, as I call their names.

• Sakari Famous, who won Bermuda’s first medal, claiming a Silver medal in the Under 17 Girls High Jump.  I understand that this is Sakari's first Carifta games, so congratulations, Sakari, and well done!

• Kyrah Scraders followed up with a Silver medal in the Under 17 Girls 1500 metres in a time of 4:39 seconds,  setting a new Bermuda Junior Record, as well as a personal best time.  Kyrah also won a Gold medal in the Under 17 Girls  800 metres in a time of 2:11, which was also a personal best.  I couldn't run that fast even if someone was chasing me. 

• Zakiyyah Showers claimed the third medal, taking bronze in the Open Female 3000 metres; and

• Juma Mouchette, took the  bronze medal in the Under 20 Boys 5000 metres;

Athletes, you pushed yourselves to the max and didn't hold back.  Some of you achieved 4th and 5th place finishes, as well as personal bests, which is highly commendable.  Your performance clearly shows that you are world class competitors and we are exceptionally proud of you.  You are all winners, and I hope that regardless of whether you won a medal or not,  you will take with you life experiences that have turned teammates into roommates,  therapists, and most importantly, life long friends. I hope that the bonds that you have made and the life lessons that you have learned both on and off the field or track last you your whole life through. It is the spirit, the will to win and the will to excel  that lasts, and these qualities are so much more important than any of the events that occasion them.  

Enjoy the next few days celebrating your accomplishments and basking in the limelight.  You earned it and you deserve it.  However, as time passes, and the memory of this event gets further and further away from your mind,  remember that after the headlines are old, after the cheers have died down, after your medal has been hung up and all the pomp and circumstance has faded, what is left and what will last is the dedication to doing with your lives the very best you can do to make the world a better place in which to live.

We salute you Athletes, and we applaud your outstanding success at the Track & Field portion of the 2013 Carifta games.  Well done!