T&T will host 2025 Carifta Games.

This, according to George Comissiong, president of the National Association of Athletics Administrations of T&T (NAAATT) on Tuesday, a day after the close of Carifta50 in Nassau, Bahamas over the traditional Easter weekend.

Next year's edition will be held in Grenada, announced on Monday, the final day of the regional track and field championships.

Grenada successfully secured the staging of the next edition after defeating T&T, 16-4, in the votes. This will be the third time that Grenada will be hosting the Games, following editions in 2000 and 2016. Meanwhile, T&T last hosted in 2005 at Bacelot, Tobago.

The bid result/vote does not correctly reflect what occurred, said Comissiong. "We got Carifta 2025."

Comissiong shared that the decision to bid was influenced by T&T hosting the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) but more importantly by the recent initiative by the government to promote athletics through collaboration with Jamaica. Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Education and Minister of Sport and Community Development, Shamfa Cudjoe, were part of the delegation.

"Ministers Cudjoe and Gadsby-Dolly participated in a recent study tour to Jamaica

While in Jamaica our bidding for 2024 or 2025 was discussed and we agreed to throw our hat in the ring, knowing quite well that completion of the necessary paperwork, getting Cabinet approval etc was cutting it close, hence the option of either 2024 or 2025."

The study tour ended a few days before Carifta started, said Comissiong who travelled from Jamaica to the Bahamas to join the T&T team.

Both bids (Grenada and ours) were tabled and sent to members ahead of the meeting. Prior to the vote parties were asked if either was willing to take 2025 if they didn't get 2024 and I (as president of NAAATT) indicated that we were prepared to take 2025....thereby making the voting process more or less moot.

Comissiong, who was among the presenters during the medal ceremonies at Carifta50, added:

Hosting in 2024 had the advantage of riding on the momentum of hosting CYG but hosting in 2025 allows for better planning.