The Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) cannot afford to host a training camp prior to the International Association of Athletic Federation's (IAAF) World Championships, due to the financial position the local governing body for the sport now finds itself in, according to president of the association, Mike Sands.
Sands said that a camp could not be organized in a timely manner, and as a result, the executives made a decision not to host any. The 14th edition of the IAAF World Championships will be held in Moscow, Russia, August 10-18.
"First of all, it was always our intention and desire to host a training camp," said Sands.
"At this point we are facing some serious financial constraints and the finances are not available at this time for us to execute a training camp in the timely manner which we were looking to do. Let me clarify training camp, because people sometimes misunderstand it. I have heard in the past, people asking why are we going to training camps so close to the games. The training camp is not a place where athletes get in shape or condition. It is to develop a synergy with the athletes, in particularly the relay teams. That is really the purpose of the training camp.
"We are going into Moscow early enough. I think we arrive on August 4, which will give us a number of days. I've been in communication with the coaches, Henry Rolle and George Cleare, via e-mail, trying to find out what is the best approach in trying to get the athletes together. Now we are working on getting the team into Moscow as quickly as possible. We are having serious financial constraints. The BAAA has spent over $200,000 over the past year with teams traveling and other commitments. Coming toward the end, we have two more teams to go, which are the World Championships team and the Junior Pan Am team.
"The budget for the World Championship team is in excess of $100,000. This is probably the largest team that we have ever had, which includes the historic four relay teams that have qualified. Our success has also become one of our weaknesses, to the extent that we are, at this hour, still hoping and trying to find funds so the team can travel."
Sands further explained the importance of the camp, as well as the importance of having great synergy ahead of running relays.
He said: "There are no meets anywhere around as we speak, so the coaches around the world will now have to put their best foot forward to ensure that the athletes maintain their fitness levels. One of the positives of not being at a training camp is that every individual athlete is still training with his/her personal coach and the program that they have. One of the downside things of going into a training camp so early is that they have to leave their training base and their personal trainers, who may not be able to travel. What is critical is the athlete's priority, and that is the individual event. In order for them to concentrate on their individual events, you have to be able to maintain and oversee their workout."
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