by SHERRYLYN A. TOPPIN

CHECK!

Barbados has passed the first assessment as the island prepares to host the sixth World Women's Boxing Championships at the Wildey Gymnasium from September 9 to 19 next year.

A team from the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) visited the island last month to make some preliminary checks on Barbados' capacity and progress for the championships which have been dubbed Boxing in Paradise: Never A Dull Moment.

Joyce Bowen, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Barbados (ABAB) and head of AIBA's Women's Commission, told SUNSPORT they will have to increase the number of hotels being used for the competition because of increased numbers.

Among the hotels checked were the Barbados Beach Club which will be the games village; Divi South Winds, Hilton Barbados and the Gems of Barbados Hotels, including the Savannah which will host the international technical officials.

The inspectors also toured the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre where the referee/judges seminar will be held prior to the start of the competition.

The main weigh-in, technical meeting and official draw will also be made there.

The Wildey Gymnasium passed with flying colours.

Bowen said Minister of Sports Esther Byer-Suckoo was being kept up-to-date and had set up an oversight committee.

Erskine King has moved to that committee and ABAB second vice-president Vincent Carter is now head of the local organising committee. All of the sub-committees have been established and are at work.

The budget has increased slightly to $2.5 million, but Bowen said the response from corporate Barbados so far was "nothing".

"It seems a lot more people want to come. This would be the only World Championships major before the Olympic qualifiers and the [London 2012] Olympics. The majority of Caribbean countries who couldn't afford to send teams to the last World Championships in Russia and China are also hoping to come here," the president said.

"This is the first time a small country has been granted the games and we have to make good for other countries our size. It would also open doors for us to host bigger games an conventions."

"I know we can do it. The type of people who are coming here, we would make an impression and make an impact. It is not for Joyce Bowen. This is for Barbados."

Bowen also issued an open invitation to any Barbadians with skills who wish to contribute to the smooth running of the championships.