http://trackalerts.com/news/lead-stories/4829-tt-champs-now-set-of-august-13-a-14.htmlTT champs now set for August 13 & 14
Tuesday, 21 June 2011 07:36 BY CLAYTON CLARKE, trackalerts.com
E-mail Print PDF
NAAA president Ephraime Serrette (centre) with Secretary /Games Chairman Allan Baboolal (left) and Public Relations Officer Trevor James...Clayton Clarke/trackalerts.com photoNAAA president Ephraime Serrette (centre) with Secretary /Games Chairman Allan Baboolal (left) and Public Relations Officer Trevor James...Clayton Clarke/trackalerts.com photoMUCURAPO, Trinidad & Tobago - The Trinidad & Tobago’s Sagicor Open Track and Field Championships have been rescheduled to August 13 and 14. The venue: The Hasely Crawford Stadium.
National Association of Athletic Administration (NAAA) president Ephraime Serrette, in making the announcement of the new date on Tuesday, said the rescheduled time was chosen to allow TT’s professional athletes to participate.
“These dates are the only opportunity on the International track and field calendar to accommodate our athletes with professional obligations and would allow for completion of the laying of the new track surface, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium,” President Serrette said.
Serrette added that his association regrets the inconvenience caused to local and foreign athletes who had plans to compete elsewhere. “Both nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as those invited from other countries can participate in an IAAF sanctioned relay qualifier meet.”
The former athlete also apologised to the sponsors and fans and said all effort will be made to ensure a National Championship is held in 2011.
Serrette said the NAAA executive will be seeking to meet with Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Roberts to discuss the repercussions of not staging the Championships on the designated dates. One of the issues to be raised is compensating those athletes who have already booked for this weekend when they return on August 13 and 14. Serrette said the Association was ‘unofficially banned’ from visiting the stadium.
“On previous occasions we were not allowed. We had to take sneek peeks. The executive was told that the site is a construction area and the compound used is ‘highly flammable’, but we don’t want to get into that now.”
When contacted on the ‘ban’, Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) Communications Specialist Adrian Raymond said, because the stadium was deemed a construction site, persons wishing to view the track had to indicate in advance. Raymond explained that NAAA officials turned up on Friday without prior warning wanting to see the facility and could not be accommodated.
Raymond also responded to claims made by the local track and field body that none of its members were part of the decision making process as to the choice of track or contractor, saying, "The stadium is under the preview of the Sports Company as outlined by the Cabinet."
Raymond also added that as a sporting body, the NAAA is not part of the process.
Meanwhile, Games Chairman Allan Baboolal said the association is giving the Sport Company until July 20 to complete the track, “By then we would have a clear indication whether the track will be ready for August 13 and 14.
When asked why the resurfacing of the track only began in April, Boboolal responded that the decision was made by the Sports Company.
“That was the call of the Sports Company. We indicated to them early last year that the track was not in a suitable condition for the meet, they had adequate notice to begin the work sooner. “The Sports Company and the Government in their wisdom should have started in the appropriate time. Given the surface being put down is not conducive to the type of weather we have.”
Baboolal also added that said the new date will allow local athletes who are due compete in the Diamond League meet on August 8 in London enough time to return home. Baboolal explained the August dates are close to IAAF deadline (August 15) for the World Championships in Deagu, South Korea later in the month.
“The final entries must be in on August 15 so on the second day of the championships and the selection committee will have to meet during the day and decide on the team.”
On the meeting moving to Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, Baboolal said Serrette was in the sister isle on the weekend and determined that the track was not up to mark.
“Tobago is out of the question. Serrette had a thorough analysis of the track and determined that it is absolutely no good.”
On the financial losses incured so far, Baboolal said close to two hundred thousand dollars (TT$200,000) have already been spent. “TT $158,000 have already gone in advertising. Some of the promos ran up to this morning (Tuesday). We paid for ads to the July 24. In addition we have printed tickets."
