Under normal circumstances, this might have been the space for one of my Carifta Games stories from the 49th edition of the meet, in Bermuda.

Normal, however, is not part of our vocabulary these days, the COVID-19 pandemic having thrown the world into a tailspin.

Carifta 2020 was scheduled for Easter weekend, and would have ended yesterday had the novel coronavirus not forced its postponement. Not covering the Carifta Games at this time of the year is strange. In fact, the absence of the regional junior track and field championships feels wrong.

Health, though, trumps all, and the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) had no choice but to postpone the Games. Notwithstanding the necessity of the move, there’s going to be collateral damage.

For the young athletes seeking scholarship opportunities in the United States, Carifta is the ultimate stage to showcase their talent. The scouts travel in their numbers, eager to sign world renowned Caribbean talent.

There’s still some hope of the Games being staged in August. An official NACAC announcement is likely to come sooner rather than later. Then we’ll know whether there will be an August Carifta or none at all in 2020.

Surely, this is a case of better late than never. But COVID-19 is keeping us in a state of uncertainty, and an August staging might well turn out to be impractical.

Even with a best case scenario, there’s a downside. Those athletes in their final junior year would be keen to impress the visiting scouts. As it is now, however, preparation has been severely compromised. Training at home is the new norm. Even the most driven athlete would be challenged to maintain 100 percent motivation in executing a makeshift programme devoid of training partners and the basicsÑa track, a jumping pit, a discus, etc.

With the current limitations on athletes, being at their best in August in order to attract those scholarship offers is unlikely. Fortunately, if I may be permitted to use such a positive word in these bleak times, the problem is not unique to this region, and scouts may very well have to lower the bar of expectation.

So what happens in the case of Carifta 2020 being cancelled? That would be a tragedy. Consistently the stage for remarkable performances, no Games would mean the athletics world being robbed of something special. Yes, for followers of the sport, Bermuda would have been the epicentre on Easter weekend for history has proven that Carifta is a breeding ground for excellence.

Bermuda knows all about the tradition of jaw-dropping Carifta performances. Who could forget Resurrection Sunday, 2004. Just 17 at the time, Usain Bolt stopped the clock at 19.93 seconds for boys’ Under-20 200 metres gold. The clocking was a world junior record! The rest is history, the charismatic Jamaican going on to become one of the greatest sportsmen of all times.

On a personal note, I interviewed the legend-to-be following his superb half-lap dash. As a sports journalist, Carifta is a crucial component of track and field coverage. It is important to put the region’s talented teens in the spotlight, using the sports pages and sometimes even front pages, as well as newscasts, to highlight their outstanding performances.

Like Bolt, Keshorn Walcott created a huge impression in Bermuda. At the 2012 edition of the Games, the Trinidad and Tobago field athlete completed a beaver-trick of Carifta successes in the javelin.

Walcott’s winning throw of 77.59 metres was a Central American and Caribbean (CAC) junior record. The Toco thrower was undoubtedly something special. Four months later, we would realise just how special, Walcott shocking the world with Olympic gold in London, England. Between Carifta and the Olympic Games, he improved on his best three timesÑ78.94, 80.11, and then 82.83 to strike gold at the CAC Junior Championships in El Salvador.

In July, Walcott was golden again at the World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain. And then, in the biggest London Games surprise, the 19-year-old climbed the top of the podium, again bettering his best with an 84.58m throw.

The Olympic men’s javelin result was indeed a shocker. For Trinbagonians, however, Keshorn Walcott was already a known name. Therein lies the importance of the Carifta Games, and the attention it receives from the media.

The list of T&T’s Carifta stars over the years is long. Space does not allow me to name them all. I toyed with the idea of listing about 30. But when my research revealed well over 100 T&T gold medallists in the 48-year history of the Games, I copped out in order to avoid the backlash of inevitably leaving out many deserving champions.

Instead, I’ll highlight the three representatives from this country who have captured the coveted Austin Sealy Award, presented to the most outstanding athlete at each edition of the Games. Sprint sensation Darrel Brown was the Austin Sealy winner in both 1999 and 2000. Middle distance runner Gavyn Nero secured the award in 2006. And in 2010, hurdler Jehue Gordon was the top performer.

That Brown and Gordon went on to become world-beaters at the senior level underlines the importance of the Carifta Games and the need for comprehensive coverage. It seems unlikely that First Citizens Sports Foundation 2019 Youth awardees Devin Augustine and Shaniqua Bascombe, as well as Safiya John and Rae-Anne Serville will get a shot at Carifta glory this year and the opportunity to adorn Express back pages.

What could possibly be the silver lining in these dark COVID-19 times? Cancellation would afford NACAC additional time to formulate a policy that would ensure proper working conditions for the regional media at each edition of the Games.

To NACAC president Mike Sands, please do not continue leaving us at the mercy of Local Organising Committees (LOCs) that lack an appreciation of the media and the important role we play in the development of the sport.