With just over a week to go before the start of this year’s Caribbean and Central American Games (CAC) in El Salvador and Dominican Republic, Jamaica’s Chef de Mission Paulton Gordon says matters of logistics are being finalised ahead of the team’s departure for the championships next week.

The championships, which will see Jamaicans competing in 21 disciplines — up from 18 in 2018 — will be held from June 23 to July 9 in the Central American country.

The Jamaica contingent is down to compete in netball and chess for the first time of the Games this year.

Gordon said that the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) has been working with the organising committees of the championships in El Salvador and Dominican Republic to ensure that all is in place ahead of Jamaica’s arrival for the championships next week.

“Generally, the preparations are going well because we are now in the process of ensuring that all the logistical details are in place,” said Gordon, who is the president of the Jamaica Basketball Association.

“We have been in touch with all of the sporting associations to ensure that the bookings and completed itineraries are in place so that we can get the necessary wavers from the organising committee in El Salvador and in the Dominican Republic and so in terms of our side, we are pretty much there,” he said.

Gordon pointed out that compared to previous years, the crime rate in El Salvador is not as bad as it used to be, but they have assured that the organisers in that country that proper security will be provided for the various teams on their arrival and stay in the Central America country.

“We have been assured that the security will be in place, and from my understanding, is that there will be three layers of security — the El Salvador University, national security and private security,” he said.

“The crime is not as bad as it used to be a few years ago so we are pretty comfortable in terms of the preparations,” Gordon stated.

Jamaica won 27 medals at the last championships, which was held in Colombia. This included 12 gold, four silver, and 11 bronze.

Gordon underscored that based on the strength and depth of the various teams that the JOA is sending to the championships, he expects the country to surpass their previous medal haul this time around.

“From what I have gathered, most of the associations are in preparation mode in terms of their athletes by getting them ready, by getting them organised and getting them in the frame of mind to compete and to compete in a positive way,” he said.

“I am expecting a record medal haul and we are talking to the various associations to ensure that they are prepared, ready and raring to go,” Gordon added.