Published: Sunday 12, February, 2017
By: Contributing Editor
Nevisians at home and abroad welcome the construction of the synthetic track at Long Point by the CCM led Nevis Island Administration.
However, after listening to Senior Sports Minister Hon. Mark Brantley making a statement, the perception is that the facility is been rushed.
With the Gulf Insurance sponsored Inter-Primary School Championships around the corner, there is a heightened sense of hope that once the deadline date which is the end of March is met, the Championships could have a new home come April, (usually held the first week in April).
The touring of the facility by Minister Brantley and the other members of the cabinet excluding Premier Amory wasn’t a public stunt. The inclusion of Permanent Secretary, Mr. Daniel who also has responsibility for Education is telling as Inter-Primary falls under Education and Sports. Further, the rush to complete phase 1 and have installed temporary seating is evidence enough to conclude that Brantley cares only about himself being in the lime light.
Obviously Brantley and his colleagues don’t care about the athletes getting familiar with the synthetic track and the conditions surrounding the area.
It is almost certain that Coaches would disagree to have the meet facilitated at the Long Point Facility without their athletes being afforded the opportunity to train at the facility especially now that track shoes would be a must for the athletes.
Coaches, teachers, parents and guardians are all happy and excited that Nevis is set to receive a synthetic track. While the Mondo Track has been touted as the largest investment in sports on Nevis, citizens ought to be mindful that our youths have a future ahead of them.
The majority of our primary school athletes are more comfortable running bare-footed. While injury can occur at any time while running with or without shoes, running on a synthetic track bare-footed for the first time will prove difficult for athletes who haven’t yet transitioned to track shoes.
If Nevis is getting an International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)-certified service then the first meet and any there after should follow IAAF rules and regulations. Holding the Gulf Insurance Interprimary School Championships and having some children running without shoes on the Mondo Track would be a violation of the IAAF rules and regulations.
*This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKN PULSE. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical errors within press releases and (or) commentaries. The views contained within are not necessarily those of SKN PULSE.
