FROM THE NACAC PRESIDENT’s DESK April 2015

INTRODUCTION – This Table of Content From my Desk is to keep you inform of what we Introduction 1 have done during the month of March and IAAF Council Meeting 1 April. One very Our Future is Guaranteed 1 important aspect in the last two month is the amount competitions that Boys and Girls Champs 1 have been held in the area/region. Also, we Nevis Inter-Primary School 2 attended a very important IAAF Council meeting, Championships “The Mini Olympics” the last one before the IAAF Congress in August The 44th CARIFTA Games 2 just before the World Championships. Championship and Competitions that our 3 IAAF COUNCIL MEETING –In April 15-16, I MF’s Must Attend attended the last meeting, held in Beijing, of the Need Four More Years 4 IAAF Council before the IAAF Congress in August. We heard every report from all the IAAF OUR FUTURE IS GUARANTEED – Lately we had Committees and Commissions and all the the privilege to attend three events that are an Competition and Constitutionals rules proposals example of why our development of Athletics is changes were discussed and the Council took a guaranteed. decision in all the proposals. Perhaps the highlight of the meeting was the awarding of the JAMAICA BOYS AND GIRLS CHAMPS - We had IAAF World Championships for 2021 to Eugene, the honor to attend the Boys and Girls Champs in Oregon, a bid proposal that was supported by 25 Jamaica as an invitation of the ISSA and honestly, members of the Council with one member voting I have not witnessed a meet in the no and one member abstained. For the IAAF, and world with the intensity and tenacious especially for the NACAC Area, this is a very competition observed in this unique event. I used important decision since, finally, the IAAF to attend this sport event in the 80s and 90s but, flagship event, will be held in USA. We know that due to my duties at Rice University, I did not this decision will bring huge marketing and attend the event for some years. The key behind sponsorship packages to the IAAF and hopefully the unbelievable success of this unique event, is to the NACAC Area. The most important aspect of the athletes, coaches, alumni, and the overall the deal is that NBC will be televising the WC live nation identification with the different schools all over the USA and other parts of the world. participating. It is the best example of a school program that for 105 years has developed a final championship where there are no limitations as far as athletes giving it all for their school colors and prestige. The competition is so intense that you cannot help it to get very emotional and passionate. Those were my feelings and I would like to point out, that I do not have any relation with any of the schools. But being involved in 1

FROM THE NACAC PRESIDENT’s DESK April 2015

Athletics from grade one until now, it is in my schools and, as the Jamaica Boys and Girls blood and I could not help it to be emotionally Champs, the Mini Olympics is as intense and involved with every event. But, the beauty of the competitive as the Reggae nation event. Although, Boys and Girls Champs is the organization and the Nevis event is a primary school competition, administration of the event. The meet is run like a the organization and the running of the meet clock under the direction of Master Coach, Glen management is as professional and serious as any Mills. Mills runs the competition but, the top event in the world. In spite that the event is hundreds of teachers, students and corporate held in a 300 meter grass track, they still have all executives like the CEO of Grace and his assistants the modern equipment in place and the , ensure that the organization is first class and competition runs like a clock. This event is the everything is run professionally. Congratulations number one event held in Nevis every year and to Jamaica and to the ISSA for this unique show every citizen of Nevis was there cheering for their and for guarantying the future of Athletics of particular team (school). The event has been Jamaica and of course in the Area/Region. I must sponsored for the last 23 years by Gulf Insurance, express my appreciation to Dr. Warren Blake, Inc. a major multinational company out of President of the JAAA, for his hospitality and . My congratulations to all attentions to me and my wife Evelyn during our the school principals, the teachers, students, visit to Kingston. government personnel and the hundreds of volunteers behind the success of this event. But NEVIS INTER-PRIMARY SCHOOL my respect and admiration to my dear friend CHAMPIONSHIPS “THE MINI OLYMPICS” - Lester Blackett who, as Mills in Jamaica, is the From Jamaica, on April 1, as an invitation of my steering wheel behind the organization. dear friend Lester Blackett from Nevis, we attended the 33rd version of the Inter Primary School Championships or the “Mini Olympics”, as it is known, held in the beautiful island of Nevis. Another unique experience of the great combination of sport with academics since, the competition involved all the Nevis primary

THE 44TH CARIFTA GAMES - Then from Nevis we went to the sister island of St. Kitts to attend the 44th version of the Carifta Games, one of the best junior/youth championship in the world, if not the best. Since, the Carifta Games, has become such a large event and attended by so many people, there were some challenges at the beginning, but everything was solved and overcome and, as always, the event was the showcase that it has become. For our benefit the two candidates for the presidency of the IAAF, 2

FROM THE NACAC PRESIDENT’s DESK April 2015

Sergey Bubka and Sebastian Coe attended the 2, 2015. Also, to prepare our athletes for the IAAF 2015 Carifta Games and witnessed what we have World Youth Championships which will be held in been telling the IAAF Council about this event and Cali, Colombia, the Colombian Federation and the what the IAAF President Lamine Diack City of Cali are hosting the 1st Pan-American experienced in 2001when he witnessed that this Youth Championships May 30-31 and Mexico is is the best junior/youth championship in the hosting the 1st Iberoamerican Youth world. Both Bubka and Coe promised that, is they become president of the IAAF, they will make sure that the Carifta Games will be treated as a world class event and they will guarantee the full support of the IAAF not just with financial resources but with expertise of human resources to help with the organization and running of this unique showcase. On behalf of the entire NACAC Athletics Family our most sincere words of congratulations to the 2015 Carifta Games LOC and moreover to his Chairman and President of the SKNAA, our dear friend Glenville Jeffers, one of NACAC best and most respected leaders.

Championships, June 6-7 in Morelia, Michoacán – Mexico. But the NACAC Area flagship event of the year

CHAMPIONSHIPS AND COMPETITIONS THAT OUR MFs MUST ATTEND – Although the Area, Regional and Hemisphere is full of championships, invitational competitions and one day meetings, there are very important championships where we expect 100% participation of our Athletics Family. These are, the CAC Age Group Championships to be held in July 18-19 in , Trinidad and Tobago, the Pan-American Games to be held in Toronto, is the 2nd NACAC Area Senior Championships Ontario – Canada in July (Athletics July 18 -26), to be held in San José, Costa Rica, August 7-9, the Pan-American Junior Championships in 2015. We expect a large number of our top Edmonton, Alberta – Canada, July 31 - August 1- athletes to participate in this important event and 3

FROM THE NACAC PRESIDENT’s DESK April 2015

100% participation of all our MFs. Remember, if some need more time. Therefore, we will be we are able to attract the best athletes for this grateful and honored to represent our entire Championship as the other Continental Areas do, Athletics Family as President of the NACAC AA we will be able to have the best Continental Area and as Area Representative for four more Championship in the World in the future. years, if you kindly give us your support and Therefore, we expect the collaboration and confidence. To run this organization is a 24/7 commitment of all our MFs in bringing to San José, commitment, 365 days a year and honestly, we not only a team but, the best athletes from each feel that I have, the time, the drive, the energy, country. Our athletes must understand that they the experience, the knowledge, the contacts and owe their development to our MFs and now that relations, and the commitment to lead the Area they are world class athletes, we need from them with your support and collaboration in to help us to develop this important harmony and unity, to be best Athletics Championship. Let us show the world which area Continental Area in the world. This has been my has the best athletes! See all of you in San José, dream and goal since, I have been involved in Costa Rica! the administration aspect of Athletics since 1970 and I know that together we can achieve NEED FOUR MORE YEARS – One of our most this major goal. Thank you very much in dynamic leaders, Edith Skipping, the president advance and I will see you all in San José, Costa of the Turks and Caicos Athletic Federation, Rica. asked me after the Carifta Congress that she was expecting me to announce, during the Best wishes… Congress, that I was running for reelection for the Presidency of the NACAC AA and for Area Representative. I told her that, it was not the occasion and that soon, I will announce my candidature. Therefore, after being encourage and asked by many presidents of our MFs, by many members of the IAAF Council, including outgoing President Lamine Diack, friends and colleagues from the Olympic movement, athletes and coaches and moreover members of the NACAC Council and the president of my NF, Dr. José E. Arrarás, I have humbly decided at this time to announce, that I will be running for the Presidency of NACAC for four more years. I feel that myself alongside the current CONTACT US NACAC Council need four more years to culminate our Continental Athletics Strategic PO BOX 4770 Plan which we feel, is moving forward and in CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO 00984 the right direction. We have nine objectives in TEL/FAX. (787) 726-3586 our CASP that we must achieve in the next four EMAIL: [email protected] years. Although some of those have been WEBSITE: WWW.ATHLETICSNACAC.ORG achieved already or are close to be achieved,

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