Hampton await $$ word from Govt

ENTRIES keep pouring in from Caribbean countries for this year’s 29th edition of Hampton International Games scheduled for May 3 and 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain.

But up to yesterday, Games chairman Rawle Raphael said he had no word from government or the Sports Ministry regarding his request for financial assistance. Raphael said Learie Scipio head of  the Games Financial Committee had informal discussions with Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Roger Boynes during the recent Southern Games. He said Scipio told him government promised “some funding” but did not disclose any amount.

Since December last, Hampton requested a grant/loan of $10 million over five years, which will assist in the Games achieving Grand Prix status by the International Association of Athletic Federations. Raphael said “up to this morning (yesterday) I received a ‘fax’ from Chandra Sturrup of Bahamas, indicating her willingness to compete at the Games.” He said, top international athletes, world 100 metres record holder Tim Montgomery, Coby Miller, Tim Harden, Justin Gatlin, Tayna Lawrence, Debbie Ferguson, Zhanna Pinttsevich and Savatheda Fynes are standing by, awaiting tickets to fly in for the Games. “Once we get the money we will be having most if not all these world-class athletes at the Games.” Raphael said.

He also said entries were received from 73 athletes from the Striders Club of Barbados, another 23 from Guyana, three from Grenada and he had several e-mails and “fax’ messages he had not yet dealt with. Meanwhile, Hampton announced admission charges for the two-day Games — $20 uncovered stands for adults and $10 for children, $60 adults and $30 childred for coveren stands each day. And there is a “price-cutter” of $90 adults and $200 per carload of five in covered stands for both days.