(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) The inaugural CARICOM 10K Road Race will be launched in Saint Lucia on the morning of 3 July 2005, just hours before the opening ceremony for the 26th Meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government.

The race is open to professional and amateur athletes from across the Region as well as other CARICOM nationals residing elsewhere. The race is a means by which the Community wishes to encourage CARICOM nationals to use physical activity and sport to promote healthy lifestyles, peace and cooperation, and to improve their quality of life.

The CARICOM 10K Road Race will become an annual event to be held in the Member State hosting the Regular Meeting of The Conference of Heads of Government.

The race is open to males and females and prizes will be awarded from 1st to 6th place, with the top prize in each category being US$1000 and a winner's trophy. Monetary prizes will also be given to athletes who place 2nd to 6th.

The Registration form for the CARICOM 10K Road Race can be downloaded from the CARICOM website http://www.caricom.org  or can be had from the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) in Member States. The completed forms can be sent to the CARICOM Secretariat or the AAA in Member States. Registration forms must be submitted by 24 June 2005.