BAAA monitoring readiness of new national stadium

Fri, Feb 1st 2013, 03:20 PM

Mike Sands, president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA), will closely monitor the track and field championships this weekend, the first full meet on the local governing body's calendar.
Sands will pay attention to the setting up of apparatuses and the execution of crew members working at the new Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. The Baker Concrete/Greyco Ltd. "Star Performers Track Classic 2013" this Saturday will serve as a test for the executive members of the BAAA, the National Sports Authority and coaches as they prepare for the CARIFTA Games. Taking the ongoing work at the old Thomas A. Robinson stadium into consideration, Sands said a comprehensive assessment will be done in mid-March. The new facility is expected to be certified by the end of February.
"Over the past two weeks we didn't make full use of the stadium, so it is hard for us to see exactly what was needed and should be done" said Sands.
"When this meet concludes this weekend, we should have a better idea. This meet is a test for us. It will allow us to see the progress that was made, and the issues that we need to iron out. A full range of events will take place, and more persons will be here because the meet caters to all age groups.
"Right now, the athletes are warming up inside the new stadium. At the end of the day, it is expected that old Thomas A. Robinson stadium will serve as the warm-up track. That will mean less congestion and a smoother flow. The past two meets, the Odd Distance and the High School Relays, were not a good test. We didn't utilize the stadium like it is suppose to, so we weren't able to tell or see how everything will operate."
Sands said the BAAA is not under pressure and the membership board will not focus on the certification of the track. He added that the track must be certified in order to host the CARIFTA Games, set to take place March 28-April 1. It was revealed that a committee is in place to ensure the readiness of the multi-million dollar stadium. The new Thomas A. Robinson stadium was a gift to The Bahamas from China. It was officially opened on February 25, 2012.
The 15,000-seat stadium is under the control of the National Sports Authority. Sands confirmed that the relationship between the National Sports Authority and the executive members in the BAAA is very stable, and that both groups are constantly communicating.
"It is our duty to make sure that we are ready to host the visiting teams from the various countries in our region," he said.
"I continue to press upon my members that our focus will not be on the readiness of the track. There is a committee in place for that, and from all signs that I have been receiving, the track will be certified by the end of February. We are satisfied in knowing that it will be done.
"We are also satisfied in knowing that the National Sports Authority is working diligently and will use these local meets to correct any problems, so when they do launch at the CARIFTA Games it will be correct."
According to Sands, the stadium will be without lights for the next two weeks while final work with the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) is done. All meets that will be held at the stadium in the interim will have to be finished before sunset.

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