Photo: Dr. Warren Blake, President of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association
Everything surrounding the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Junior Championships is now up in the air with the unfortunate turn of events happening now with the chosen bidder country Russia. The All Russia Athletic Federation (ARAF) has been provisionally suspended, as an IAAF member since last month.
As a result of their suspension they are not entitled to host any IAAF sanctioned events during their time of suspension.
Their main sports hub Kazan was selected hosts for the 2016 edition of the World Junior Championships which have been held biannually since 1986 for the best under-20 athletes in the world.
A lot of countries are now throwing their hats in the ring have to opt to fill the vacant spot. The list of potential host included the 2002 host, Jamaica.
The President of the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) Dr. Warren Blake, revealed via Jamaica Television Sports newscast that the country has signalled to the governing authorities, IAAF, their bid to host the game for a second time.
He was quick to point out that it will take a lot for the country to be granted the prestigious role, to the foreseen financial challenges that they might encounter. But he is hopeful that the Government of Jamaica “buy into the idea” and make it happen even in the short space of time.
He alluded to the fact that countries like Poland who have signalled their intentions to host, are better able to meet the financial obligation and requirements and might be considered over Jamaica.
Some of the general requirements considered as necessary for the successful hosting of the event are having minimum population of 100,000 minimum 10,000-seat stadium, category 1 stadium certificate, eight-lane synthetic surface, warm-up track including a separate area for long throws, two training venues, at least 2000 beds for team accommodation and International airport within a two-hour bus ride.
These are things that Jamaica have in place but the following main financial obligations of the organising committee might not be realistic at this time.
These includes paying travel costs in economy class and full-board accommodation for the IAAF Delegates (approximately 32 people) and in addition the travel and full-board accommodation costs of the required site visits, pay any related cost for national competition officials, pay full-board accommodation costs for the staff of the technology partner providing timing / chip timing services, a minimum of 32 people for a minimum of 13 nights and for one preliminary site visit.
They will be required to pay the costs for doping control organisation and implementation, including blood testing pre-competition (number of samples as requested by the IAAF) and approximately 120 competition urine tests and 50 EPO or other additional special analyses (e.g., IRMS) as requested by the IAAF, provide appropriate medical organisation (health care and sports medicine services) as per IAAF competition medical guidelines accessible on IAAF website and pay for insurance policies as required by the IAAF.
These are just a few of the huge financial burdens that they would have to undertake, if the event is granted to Jamaica. The country had a very successful staging of the event in 2002.
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