PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Ato Boldon believes that the cancellation of the Caribbean Games this year may have been a blessing in disguise.

But the former Trinidad and Tobago track star told the Trinidad Express newspaper yesterday that organisers should push again to stage the event in the two-island republic next year.

"To have (the Games) the same year as you're having a (track and field) World Championships is probably not the best thing," Boldon told the newspaper.

"Maybe, it can fill the void that exists when you don't have major championships. So if you put it next year, there's no Worlds, no Olympics. I would certainly (lobby) for them to have it next year."

Boldon has been one of the ambassadors for the Games and described the cancellation as "unfortunate".

Games won't go away

"I don't think the idea (of the Games) will die," he said. "I think they will move it, possibly to next year. I don't think it will go away.

"The reasons for not having the Games are still valid, whether it is swine flu, the economy, whatever, now clearly is not the right time and you have to respect that decision."

But Boldon hopes that organisers will make a quick decision about staging the Games, and market the event heavily throughout the region so that it becomes a major attraction.

Boldon feels the staging of a Caribbean Games is vital to the regional sports landscape so that fans can see the best athletes of the region competing in one place.

"If I wanted to (see the best athletes in the Caribbean), I would have to go to the Jamaica National Championships, the Bahamian Championships, the Trinidad Championships, and so on," he said.

"So the need exists, and the need is not going to go away, and that's why I say, I don't think (the Games) are going to go away, I think it's just going to be postponed for now."

Organisers announced on Friday the cancellation of the first-ever Caribbean Games in T&T next month, blaming the spread of swine flu for the decision.

The event, organised by the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees, was set to be staged from July 12 to 19.

T&T Health Minister Jerry Narace and Sports Minister Gary Hunt said the decision was taken to prevent the spread of the virus that has so far affected more than 76 countries and infected more than 30,000 persons.

T&T has 18 confirmed cases of the virus and health authorities have warned of the likelihood of that figure increasing over the coming days.