Govt snub Hampton Games

THE 29th edition of the Hampton International Games has been snubbed by the government of Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

According to Games chairman Rawle Raphael, he was told in a telephone conversation that, “the 29th Hampton International Games was not listed as a priority with the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs.” Raphael said he was also told that under the circumstances, a request for supplementary funding could not be placed before Cabinet as advised by Junior Minister of Finance Conrad Enill. As a result, Raphael has made a special appeal to Sports Minister Roger Boynes to assist with the funding of both the international men and women 100 metres events. “This is to avoid the erosion of our Grand Prix ambition,” Raphael pleaded.

Raphael and his committee were asking government for a grant or soft loan of $10 million over five years, with a view to having the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) upgrade the Games to Grand Prix status by 2007. Now the Hampton boss is asking Minister Boynes for $312,000 to offset the expenses of six foreign athletes and two coaches, including hotel, and airfare. A number of top athletes have expressed their intention to compete at the Games to be held on May 3 and 4 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. They include current world 100 metres record holder Tim Montgomery of the United States. Also declaring their willingness to be at the Games are top Americans Tim Harden, Coby Miller, Justin Gatlin, Zhanna Pintusevich, conqueror of Marion Jones in 2001 World Championship 100 metres, Tanya Lawrence (Jamaica), who chased Jones in most races last year, and Debbie Ferguson (Bahamas).

Meanwhile, 155 athletes from Guyana, Barbados, Antigua and Grenada have registered to compete at the Games along with athletes from 35 local clubs. Hampton will stage a series of 4 x1 lap relays around the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain for boys and girls Under-20 and Under-17 and men and women on May 4 from 7 am. There will also be  one-lap race walking events for men and women before the start of the final day’s programme at the stadium.