Some 600 athletes from 27 countries are expected to participate in the Carifta Games in Bermuda in April, the Bermuda National Athletics Association and Carifta Games 2020 local organising committee announced this week. The Games are now just two months away, with good progress being made by the hosts, who are staging the event from April 10 to 13. “We have received the preliminary entries from the countries,” Donna Raynor, the BNAA president, said. “Out of 28 countries, there will be 27 countries in attendance,“Based on the entries from each country, we are looking at hosting 603 athletes with 119 coaches. “As per normal, the athlete numbers can decrease once countries have their trials, select their teams and even sometimes have injuries. “The country with the most athletes submitted is Jamaica, with 80, as per normal, they usually have two in each event. Bermuda has submitted 63, but again we will see as the season progresses. “Plans are moving along great as we are heavy into our marketing plan and it will only increase as we draw near April.” The athletes and officials will be staying at the Fairmont Southampton with most of the teams arriving on April 9. “We also have a number of spectators from various countries who will be in attendance and have already purchased their tickets to the Games,” Raynor added. “The tickets are selling well and our hope is that the stadium will be sold out similar to 2012 Carifta Games.”Bermuda has hosted the Carifta Games four times since they began in Barbados in 1972. Guyana will be first-time hosts next year when the 50th edition of the Games are held. The oldest Carifta Games record in the books belongs to Bermuda’s Sonya Smith, whose under-20 javelin throw of 53.98 metres has stood since 1979. Raneika Bean’s under-18 girls record time of 11.28 seconds set in a 100 metres heat at the 1998 Games in Port of Spain, Trinidad, also stands.