All’s set for athletics fiesta

This assurance was expressed again on Tuesday by Ken Doldron, president of the National Amateur Athletic Association (NAAA).

The three-day competition will run from tomorrow until Sunday.

Doldron said that the torrential rainfall earlier this week hampered the readiness of the Mondo track as well as the warm-up facilities located on the adjacent practice field.

“The rains has subsided and the (workers) have started doing some marking of the inner-ring (on the main field) and the warm-up facilities simultaneously,” said Doldron.

“Everything should be ready by Wednesday,” he said.

The track is yet to be certified by the sport’s governing body — the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) — but Doldron noted that the documents will be sent to the IAAF in time for official certification, which should take place today.

While the heats will get going tomorrow morning, the official ceremony will take place at 4 pm with events resuming at 5.30 pm.

Amadeo Francis, vice-president of the IAAF, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, President George Maxwell Richards and Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Roger Boynes are expected to be in attendance.

Team representing 27 nations will feature in the competition with Panama expected to confirm their participation late on Tuesday.

Doldron stated that the organisers have catered for 38 teams and a minimum of 530 athletes, who will stay at Hilton Trinidad, Crowne Plaza, Marriott Hotel and Hotel Normandie. Bermuda’s athletes were the first to be received by the Local Organising Committee.

The 14-member team arrived on Tuesday night and were immediately taken to the Championships Secretariat at the Hasely Crawford Stadium for accreditation. Within 30 minutes, the team was fed, processed and transported to their hotel.

The bermuda team is: Branwen Smith-King (Manager); Gerry Swan (Coach); Sonja Swan (Coach); Eulannae Douglas, Ashley Berry, Alexis Armstrong, Kristin Heyliger, Allison Outerbridge, Jasmine Brunson, Harold Houston, Aaron Evans, Matthew Spring, La Troya Darrell, and Arantxa King.