Team Dominica arrived safely in St. George’s, Grenada, and held their first training session at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium as they prepare for the start of the 53rd CARIFTA Games.
Team liaison is reporting that the athletes used the session to familiarize themselves with the competition venue, which will host more than a dozen Caribbean delegations over the holiday weekend.
Competition begins tomorrow, Saturday, April 4 at 9:00 a.m., followed by the official opening ceremony at 2:30 p.m.
The CARIFTA Games—considered the Caribbean’s premier junior track and field championship, will run from April 4–6 at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium. Grenada is hosting the event for the fourth time, having previously staged it in 2000, 2016, and 2024. The country was again selected to host after Guyana withdrew its interest.
Several Caribbean nations have already confirmed their delegations, with teams arriving throughout the week. Host nation Grenada has finalized a 65‑member squad, while other territories such as the British Virgin Islands have also announced their athlete rosters and support teams. These updates reflect the scale and competitive spirit expected at this year’s Games.
Dominica enters the 2026 CARIFTA Games with its largest and strongest team in history, featuring 13 qualified athletes, several national record‑holders, and multiple contenders with realistic medal potential across several disciplines. Spirits are high, and performances during the qualifying season suggest that Dominica could produce one of its best CARIFTA outings to date.
Watched some preliminary competition this morning. The Dominicans seem to be awed by the big occasion. Potential is there but they need more exposure to these kinds of grand athletic meets. Wish the other local athletes much success.
Build the athletic facilities so that the Dominica athletes would be on s position to train pretty all year round. any not having the proper facilities the athletes are placed at a huge disadvantage.
The recent talk by Roosevelt about building this grandiose sporting facility does nothing to motivate or help the 2026 local CARIFTA team. Action is always better than words. A promise is a comfort to a fool.