Antigua and Barbuda is set to make history at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with the nation’s first-ever participation in Olympic-style weightlifting at the regional multi-sport event.
The milestone marks a significant step in the country’s sporting development as Antigua and Barbuda sends a 16-member delegation to the centennial edition of the Games, which run from July 24 to August 8 and feature more than 6,500 athletes competing across 40 sports.
According to the Antigua and Barbuda National Olympic Committee (ABNOC), the national team will compete in athletics, swimming, table tennis, beach volleyball, sailing and weightlifting, with the inclusion of weightlifting representing a landmark achievement for the twin-island nation.
ABNOC First Vice President Thomas Greenaway, who is serving as Chef de Mission, said the delegation reflects the country’s continued investment in developing athletes capable of competing on the regional stage. Greenaway, an experienced regional Games administrator, will lead the team throughout the competition.
In addition to its historic weightlifting appearance, Antigua and Barbuda will also field competitors in three sailing disciplines, broadening its participation across the Games programme.
The Central American and Caribbean Games, first staged in 1926, are the world’s oldest regional multi-sport competition. The 2026 edition is particularly significant as it celebrates the event’s 100th anniversary, bringing together thousands of athletes from across Central America and the Caribbean in what is expected to be one of the largest sporting gatherings in the region.
For Antigua and Barbuda, the weightlifting debut represents more than another medal opportunity. It reflects the continued expansion of the country’s sporting programme and provides local lifters with their first chance to compete in one of the Caribbean’s premier multi-sport competitions.
The Games also serve as an important pathway to future international competitions, with several disciplines offering qualification opportunities for the 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru
