With the 2013 CARIFTA Games rapidly approaching, preparations are being made that not only will the stadium be up to par, but the officials as well. As it stands now, the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium is still not certified by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF), but is expected to be certified in time for next year's CARIFTA Games. The 2013 CARIFTA Games are set to be held at that venue, over the Easter Holiday weekend, March 28-April 1, 2013.

Those track and field championships will mark the seventh time in which the event was held in The Bahamas, but the first since 2002. About 25 nations are set to compete. As for the officials getting on track to supervise the event, a Technical Official's Education and Certification System (TOECS) Level I course will be offered to 24 participants. Bahamas Association of Certified Officials (BACO) President Ralph McKinney said that the course is primarily so that people will be able to supervise the various athletic events here in The Bahamas.

"Persons participating will more than likely be the supervisors of the various events at CARIFTA. This would be a kick off for CARIFTA," said McKinney. "All of the material was sent from Monaco. It is set up so that only 24 candidates can take the course at this particular time. We have more than enough people to do the course, but the thing is, the IAAF sent specific instructions as to how they want the course to run. There are only 24 modules and 24 exams, so only 24 people can do it," he added.

McKinney said that the course is over-subscribed, but the idea is for the participants to do the course, and then turn around and implement a training program so that we could have more people being trained. The course will be held at the Yellow Elder Primary School and the Thomas A. Robinson Stadium on Fridays between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It is certified by the IAAF, and will be conducted by two local IAAF representatives, Area Technical Official (ATO) Stephanie Rahming and Frank 'Pancho' Rahming (Level 5 IAAF Instructor). In addition to CARIFTA, the training will prepare officials for the 2013 track and field season, and the inaugural IAAF World Relay Championships in 2014 and 2015, both to be held in The Bahamas.

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