Team Cayman carried the colours of the Cayman Islands into the opening ceremony of the XXV Central American and Caribbean Games on Friday night, joining athletes from across the region as Santo Domingo officially launched one of the Caribbean’s largest multi-sport competitions.

The ceremony featured a large-scale visual display of fireworks and a coordinated drone swarm, with delegations entering the stadium for the parade of nations ahead of more than two weeks of competition.

Leading Team Cayman into the ceremony were the delegation’s flag bearers, Dylan Lynee and Luna Ebanks, who carried the Cayman Islands flag as the team entered the stadium. Both athletes will also compete for Cayman in beach volleyball during the Games.

Supporting the delegation throughout the event are Chef de Missions Bernie Bush and Dion Brandon, who will guide and assist Cayman’s athletes during their time in Santo Domingo.

Cayman has sent a 15-athlete delegation competing across six sports: sailing, swimming, squash, beach volleyball, gymnastics and 3x3 basketball.

Representing the island are Ciara Murphy in sailing; Adam Sellars and Katerina Galatopoulos in swimming; Jade Pitcairn, Lara Conolly and Kaylee Pierre in squash; Dylan Lynee, Jesario Ebanks, Luna Ebanks and Joanna Robinson in beach volleyball; Karthik Adapa in gymnastics; and Daric Ebanks, Justin Collins, Davion Cotterell and Shaad O’Garro in 3x3 basketball.

Bernie Bush, President of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee, said the opportunity for Cayman athletes to compete on the regional stage reflects years of commitment from athletes, coaches, families, volunteers and National Federations.

“The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee is immensely proud of every athlete who has earned the opportunity to represent our country in 2026. Competing at the Central American and Caribbean Games.” Mr Bush said. Adding: “On behalf of the CIOC, I congratulate every member of Team Cayman and thank everyone who has contributed to making these opportunities possible. We wish our athletes every success as they proudly wear the Cayman Islands colours on the international stage.”

Medallist returns

For Cayman, the Santo Domingo Games also represent an opportunity to return to the medal table after its most recent Central American and Caribbean Games podium success in 2018 in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Cayman won three bronze medals at those Games, all in squash. The medals came in the women’s doubles, mixed doubles and women’s team events.

One member of that medal-winning generation returns in 2026. Jade Pitcairn, who was part of Cayman’s 2018 squash bronze-medal teams, is again representing the island in Santo Domingo alongside Lara Conolly and Kaylee Pierre.

Cayman’s first competition results came Saturday at Sports Malecón Park, where both beach volleyball teams began their group-stage campaigns.

In the men’s Group B competition, Mexico’s Ayala and Vargas defeated Cayman’s Jesario Ebanks and Dylan Lynee in straight sets, winning 2–0.

In the women’s Group A competition, hosts Dominican Republic, represented by Paniagua and Payano, defeated Cayman’s Luna Ebanks and Joanna Robinson, also by a 2–0 scoreline.

The opening results mark the beginning of Cayman’s wider Games campaign, with athletes in swimming, squash, sailing, gymnastics and 3x3 basketball still scheduled to compete throughout the Santo Domingo event.

The XXV Central American and Caribbean Games continue through 8 August, bringing together athletes from across Central America and the Caribbean in competition across dozens of sporting disciplines.

For Team Cayman, the Santo Domingo Games represent more than a return to regional competition. They offer a new generation of athletes the opportunity to add to the island’s sporting record, while a familiar name in Jade Pitcairn provides a link to Cayman’s last CAC Games medals. The results will unfold over the coming days, as athletes across six sports continue their pursuit on the regional stage.