Bahamas 2017 has made a series of appointments ©Getty Images

The Organising Committee of The Bahamas 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games have made a series of key appointments.

Bahamas 2017 chief executive Romell Knowles has begun a hiring process with the Games now under 170 days away.

He is hoping to appoint a "dynamic" team to support efforts in the build-up to the Games. 

Cora Hepburn has been named as deputy managing director of sports operations, with responsibility for all sports related matters.

Hepburn already boasts substantial sports administration experience, including roles in athletics, gymnastics and volleyball.

She is currently the vice president of The Bahamas Commonwealth Games Association and was team manager for the Caribbean country at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August.

In addition, Hepburn chairs the Women and Sports Commission in the country and has been Chef de Mission at a number of international events. 

Also appointed is Lantasha Bethel, the executive assistant to Knowles who will serve as sports entries coordinator.

The Thomas A Robinson Stadium will be a focal point of the Games ©Getty Images
The Thomas A Robinson Stadium will be a focal point of the Games ©Getty Images

She has worked for a number of major international companies in The Bahamas and will focus on the administration of the Atos Games Management System.

Elsewhere, Mike Sands and Micheal Guy will serve as co-directors, acting as the primary liaisons between the Organising Committee and the 69 countries expected to attend.

Working underneath will be Jeordie Moss and Lucas Giffen as relation managers.

"The Committee is making strides and its growing staff is poised to present an event that every so often eliminates the geographic boundaries of the Commonwealth through a unique Caribbean experience," a Bahamas 2017 statement said.

Due to run from July 19 to 23, the Youth Games will be the largest international sporting event ever staged in The Bahamas and the largest-ever edition of the Games with up to 1,300 athletes aged 14 to 18 set to participate.

The nation’s first-ever international multi-sport event will see 94 medals contested across athletics, beach soccer, boxing, road cycling, judo, rugby sevens, swimming, tennis and beach volleyball.

The Queen Elizabeth Sports Complex in capital Nassau will be the main venue hub.

This includes the world-class 15,000-capacity Thomas A Robinson stadium.