Olympians urge athletes to stay at home

By Cayman Sports Buzz
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Updated: 8 April 2020

Two of the Cayman Islands’ most recognisable track and field stars, Ronald Forbes and Keymar Hyman, have released messages urging their fellow athletes and others to stay at home as part of efforts to thwart the spread of COVID-19.

Forbes and Hyman, both national record holders in the 110m hurdles and 100m sprints respectively, urged the Cayman population and athletes, in particular, to heed the advice of government and health officials during the global pandemic.

This was done at the request of the Cayman Islands Athletic Association (CIAA).

“This was especially geared toward the junior athletes knowing that they were preparing for the CARIFTA Games,” CIAA President Lance Barnes told Cayman Sports Buzz. “Some of these emerging athletes just missed qualification last year and were on the verge of getting there this year.”

The CARIFTA Games was one of the major events that was cancelled as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, disrupting life across the globe while killing thousands. The local track and field season had just gotten out of the blocks when a decision was taken by the Cayman Islands Government to shut down public events in a bid to limit the spread of the virus.

“We wanted to motivate our young athletes and have them hear from the senior athletes, those who have blazed the path ahead of them and give them some extra motivation,” Barnes said.

The CIAA President said the association also wanted to play its part in spreading general awareness around the #stayhomecayman campaign. “As an association, we are doing our best to ensure the message of the government and the health authorities reaches as many people in our community as well,” Barnes said.

See video with Forbes and Hyman below.