As Grenada vies to host the 53rd edition of the CARIFTA Track & Field Championships in 2026, local authorities have launched a comprehensive Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) Survey during ongoing preliminary championship activities to evaluate the potential full-range benefits of welcoming the premier regional sporting event.
The collaborative survey initiative brings together three key national stakeholders: the Macroeconomic Policy Unit within Grenada’s Ministry of Finance, the Grenada National Sports Council (GNSC), and the 2026 CARIFTA National Organising Committee (NOC). This effort is a clear reflection of the Government of Grenada’s dedication to transparent, data-driven planning and public accountability, particularly as the nation works to meet the formal hosting requirements and commitments laid out for the 2026 championships.
The core mission of the EIA Survey is to systematically quantify and examine both the direct and indirect economic ramifications of staging the 2026 CARIFTA event on Grenada’s economy. The scope of analysis spans multiple impact areas, including measuring total spending from inbound visitors, participating athletic teams, event officials, international media and on-site spectators, alongside assessing broader knock-on effects for local employment levels, cross-sector business activity and overall national revenue growth.
Aaron Moses, chairperson of the 2026 CARIFTA NOC, explained that the data gathered through the assessment will act as a foundational resource for national and sector-level strategic planning across sport, tourism, transport and hospitality. Beyond immediate planning, Moses noted that the survey findings will also shape future policy development, guide critical fiscal decision-making, and strengthen Grenada’s prospects for bidding on other large-scale international sporting events in years to come. As the assessment remains ongoing, the final results will also establish key performance benchmarks that allow policymakers to compare the economic outcomes of major sporting events hosted in Grenada across different time periods.
To guarantee a holistic and accurate evaluation, research teams have collected data from a diverse cross-section of stakeholders touched by the event. These groups include casual visitors and event spectators, local and international competing athletes, team officials and accredited event delegates, hotels and small guesthouse accommodation providers, local restaurants, street vendors and small business operators, ground and air transport service providers, as well as event volunteers and temporary event staff. By gathering input from across these varied groups, organisers aim to build a granular, accurate picture of spending trends, service utilisation rates, and how economic benefits circulate through multiple sectors of Grenada’s economy.
In a public appeal, Moses has urged all selected participants to share open, complete responses throughout the survey process, stressing that broad public cooperation is the only way to capture an accurate, unfiltered picture of the full impact that hosting the 2026 CARIFTA Championships will deliver for the island nation.