This week, a delegation of swimmers will represent Aruba. Avi Tromp, Luis Mario Arends, Xylan Anthony, and Inald Fernandes Perna will compete with other participants from March 30th to April 2nd in Barbados, the venue for Carifta 2024.
The Carifta Games is an athletic competition founded by the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) and is organized annually. The first competition was held in 1972 and consisted of various track and field events. The games consist of two age categories: under 17 years old (previously under 18 until 2017) and the other category under 20 years old. Only countries associated with CARIFTA can compete.
In 1972, during this time, Austin Sealy, who was the president of the Amateur Athletic Association of Barbados, inaugurated the CARIFTA competition to mark the transition from the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARIFTA’s purpose is to strengthen ties between English-speaking countries in the Caribbean, following the dissolution of the West Indies Federation in 1962. Sometime later, the CARIFTA organization decided to take an extra step to include French and Dutch Antillean communities in the competitions.
Giants Aquatics wishes all the swimmers of the national swimming team, especially its four swimmers, great success! Giants swimmers, stand tall!
