Guyana must get synthetic track - IAAF official By Isaiah Chappelle
Guyana Chronicle
December 13, 2006

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VISITING International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) training official Dr Juan Alberto Scarpin declared that for the sport to move forward the country must get a synthetic track, for which the IAAF could assist with more than $10 million.

Dr Scarpin began a fact-finding mission here on Monday and the Athletic Association of Guyana (AAG) hosted a press briefing for him, yesterday, at Olympic House in Queenstown, Georgetown.

The Director of the Regional Development Centre, headquartered in Santa Fe, Argentina, disclosed that the main objective of his mission was to get the local authorities interested in constructing a synthetic track.

“It is the most important thing needed in Guyana. Athletes could train on it for international meets and foreign athletes could visit the country to compete here. I’m looking forward to having the track in Guyana.”

Dr Carpin said that once the infrastructure was in place, the IAAF could inject a minimum of $12 million (US$60 000) and more help could come from Mondo of Italy towards components for the track.

Guyana is one of three countries affiliated to CONSUDAD, the governing body of South America, without a synthetic track. Suriname and Panama are the others.

AAG president Claude Blackmore explained that the money was for the laying of just the track but the facility must be available before that could happen.

He pointed out that international governing bodies did not fund the construction of facilities like stadia and swimming pools, which they considered the responsibility of a country’s government to the people.

Blackmore disclosed that since the programme to assist national associations came on stream in 1992, the AAG has approached the various subject ministers on getting the infrastructure in place.

“Nobody has been taking it seriously.”

The AAG head said that the latest venue identified was at Onverwagt in West Berbice, where there was already a ground with buildings that could house athletes.

Dr Carpin met with AAG on Monday evening to work on a programme to tap the assistance available from the IAAF.

He was due to meet the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA), yesterday, and inspect the Justice Rudolph Harper Long Jump/Triple Jump facility in Thomas Lands YMCA where he would also meet coaches.

A visit to the Michael Parris Fitness Centre in the National Park was also on his itinerary for yesterday.

Today, Dr Carpin will pay a courtesy call on Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, after which he will visit facilities used to stage AAG competitions – the Police Sports Club ground in Eve Leary and Enmore Community Centre ground.

He will also visit places of National importance such as the Umana Yana, St George’s Cathedral, Law Courts, Public Buildings, Non-Aligned Movement monument and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Brickdam.

The AAG president will host a farewell reception in the evening and Dr Carpin will depart for Suriname tomorrow morning.