(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) A number of Regional business entities in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) including two Regional air carriers have come out in support of the Inaugural CARICOM 10 K Road Race, which takes place in Saint Lucia on Sunday 3 July 2005.

To date, LIAT, BWIA West Indies Airways, Air Jamaica, Grace Kennedy, Banks DIH Ltd of Guyana and Arawak Printers of Saint Lucia have signalled their intent to support the event. The Ministry of Sports in Saint Lucia is also a strong supporter of the road race.

Athletes from across the Region are continuing to register for the event, which is being coordinated by Amateur Athletics Associations (AAA) in CARICOM Member States. The Road Race is being held as part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) response to the United Nations (UN) Declaration of 2005 as the year of sports and physical education.

CARICOM Secretariat’s Deputy Programme Manager for Sports Development, Mr. John Campbell says the organisers are pleased with the tremendous interest and he credits the AAAs in Member States for promoting the event. He commended the president of the AAA in Saint Lucia, Mr. Alfred Emmanuel for “rallying his colleagues” and putting in the required arrangements for the Race.

He further informed that the CARICOM Secretariat would be strategising with the AAAs in the Member States with a view to making the CARICOM 10 K Road Race an annual event to coincide with the hosting of the Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the CARICOM.

The race is open to both males and females. Prizes will be awarded for 1st to 6th place winners, with US$1000 set aside as the top prize in each category, and a winner’s trophy. Monetary prizes will also be given to athletes who place 2nd to 6th. Students in Saint Lucia are encouraged to participate in the event for which they will receive special prizes.