Staging our own track and field events.
AFEW days before the staging of the 15th edition of the Jamaica International Invitational Meet (JIIM), last Saturday, the Jamaican track and field public was being alerted to another event of similar magnitude. As if it needs to be emphasised, this means that the country is being asked to bear the cost of hosting two albeit highly rated athletic events, within three weeks of each other. Can the nation afford this luxury, at this time? Fuelling this concern is the fact that, apart from the regular sponsors who are brought on board on these occasions, the Government is asked to pick up a part of the tab. Coming on the heels of this, is the current buzz that Jamaica is opening its doors to stage events which could impact heavily on the budget.
The country was host to the 2002 edition of the World Junior Championships in Athletics and thoughts are that it could happen again. What should be remembered, is that the world governing body of the sport, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), needs guarantees involving millions of dollars to ensure that there is continuity.
Businessman and sports promoter, Chris Dehring, has offered his advice. He is saying that the country should think about staging its own events. This is a suggestion that is worth the while to explore.
A committee to look into the stagings of the events that are being targeted has been set up under Michael Fennell, who must by now have acquired considerable expertise in these matters.
He has chaired and presided over far too many sporting endeavours for anything less to be expected. This move has the full support of Foster’s Fairplay. Fennell should accept as a priority to undertake all the necessary checks and balances to ensure that the Government makes the right decisions in the best interests of all, including the athletes.
With all the hype that is going around about our athletes and the brilliance they are continuing to display on the global stage, it is not difficult to go astray. The country should not be taken on a path in the hope that the athletes and their performances can bail us out. Yes, the athletes need to be afforded the privilege of parading their skills before their own people ; however, Foster’s Fairplay believes that, instead of putting our cap outside of our reach, the country should take Dehring’s advice.
It is only a small percentage of Jamaica’s athletes, who perform at a level to be invited to the meets which populate the cash-rich European circuit. Why not have events that can enrich the lives and pockets of the region’s next-tier athletes until they make it to the big professional leagues? This would provide a level of consistent competition, so crucial in ascending the ladder to be the best.
Would not this competition, aligned to the appropriate marketing, be enough to attract the crowds that are being contemplated?
This is where the country should concentrate its focus and not attempt to bite off more than it can chew.