THIS WEEK IN NACAC
26 September 2021
Congratulations Victor Lopez!!!!!
NACAC President, Mike Sands, and the Council call on all of its members to join us in extending sincere congratulations to former NACAC President and World Athletics Council Member, Victor Lopez, on his ascension to the Texas Track and Field Hall of Fames, Class of 2022.
According to a release from Rice University, “former Rice head coach, Victor Lopez, has been elected to the Texas Track and Field Hall of Fame Class for 2022.”
Lopez, who hails from Puerto Rico, “started the Rice University women’s cross country and track & field program and is a USTFCCCA Hall of Famer, as well as member of the Rice Hall of Fame,” achievements of which we of NACAC should all be very proud.
His impressive record with the Rice Owls began 1980 and ended with his retirement in 2005. During his tenure as head coach, he led the Rice Owls to five Top-10 NCAA finishes with his athletes earning more that 150 All-American honors and 17 individual national championship titles. Lopez led the Owls to 10 conference titles, which included three cross country championships. Between 2000 and 2002, “the Owls won three consecutive WAC indoor titles and consecutive WAC outdoor titles in 2000-01 and 2003-04.”
Lopez’s career at Rice leaves him highly respected amongst teachers in both cross country and track & field.
NACAC knows of Victor’s illustrious career. He created and led the Central American and Caribbean Athletics Confederation’s (CACAC) Technical Committee before becoming the President of CACAC and later, President of our organization and a member of the Council of World Athletics (formerly the IAAF).
The Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will also honor the 2021 class, will take place the evening of January 7, 2022 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine at 7 p.m. NACAC wishes Victor and his family all the very best going forward.
Gender Leadership to celebrate NACAC Women
“Celebrate our Uniqueness.” That’s the theme the NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group has proposed as the theme for its final programme activity for 2021.
The theme has been prompted by the achievements of the NACAC athletes at the latest edition of the quadrennial Summer Olympics and in which, for the first time, the performances of our women athletes proved far more exciting and appealing to global audiences. In many respects, this year’s Olympics was a sort of women featured event.
The planned celebration programme will therefore pay homage to the achievements of NACAC athletes, women and men, but will acknowledge the significance of the women in respect of their proven case for gender equity and recognition alongside their male counterparts. It is not just about the athletes who won medals but rather, all our athletes whose performances got them into the finals.
The planned programme will have three (3) sessions, on a date yet to be finalized, will feature videos of some of the events as well as athletes speaking about their experiences. Member federations will be asked to have youth athletes, male and female, attend the planned session.. “We are excited about this initiative as a great way to end 2021 on a positive note”, Chair of the Gender leadership Working Group, Donna Raynor, stated.
The NACAC Gender Leadership Group convened on Thursday 9 September, after the break for the Olympics.
SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE! SAVE THE DATE!
Tuesday 28 September 2021
Gender Leadership Conference: Representation of Women in Technical Official Roles
Language: EnglishFormat: Zoom
“Join up! Sign Up!”
That’s the refrain coming from NACAC President, Mike Sands, to all of our NACAC members across the Area.
“It’s just two days away!” Sands declared as he once more encouraged our member federations to have potential women officials get themselves ready for the big occasion.
According to Sands, “As always, we know that NACAC member federations are anxious to benefit from the latest World Athletics initiative in the field of Gender Leadership and will eagerly participate in the exciting and interesting Conference on the representation of women in officiating roles.”
The Conference which will be held virtually via Zoom, will feature International Technical Officials (ITO) and Technical Officials (TO) speaking of their respective journeys and experiences. This will then be followed by discussions from a panel of experts.
According to World Athletics, the intention is “to get people thinking about the role of gender in Technical Officiating and the barriers that women have faced, but more importantly, the opportunities that are now available.”
For those member federations that have not yet encouraged their female technical officials as well as women interested in technical officiating in our sport, NACAC is once more reaching out in support of the World Athletics initiative.
NACAC’s own Gender Leadership Working Group has been doing its part in encouraging member federations to encourage participation.
Participants will be able to choose from 2 sessions:
10-12.00 Paris Time (French translation provided)
Opened by World Athletics Council Member Beatrice Ayikoru (UGA) and the moderator for the session is Yvonne Mullins (AUS), Executive Director, Oceania Athletics Association.
Keynote speakers ITO, Helen Roberts (AUS) and Technical Official, Leanne Chin (AUS), will deliver their inspirational stories of how they got where they are today and the hurdles they faced along the way.
ITO, Gemma Castaño-Vinyals (ESP), and International Starter, Jaya Mylvaganam (SGP), will also make presentations. Representing World Athletics will be Laurent Boquillet (FRA), Head ofGlobal Development and Stephane Merlino (ITA) Senior Manager.
16-18.00 Paris Time (Spanish translation provided)
Chair of the Gender Leadership Taskforce, Stephanie Hightower (USA), will open the Session.The moderator for the session is Norrie Williamson (RSA), Race Organiser and Technical Official. Keynote speakers and panellists are World Athletics Council Member, Anna Riccardi (ITA), ITO Claudia Schneck (BRA), Former ITO Esther Maynard (BAR). Again representing World Athletics will be Laurent Boquillet (FRA), Head of Global Development and Stephane Merlino(ITA) Senior Manager.
Please register your interest here: HERE
REMEMBER: Join the WA Facebook page: Empowering Women in Athletics Facebook Page
NACAC and City of Miramar to meet again
Officials of the City of Miramar, home to the ANSIN Sports Complex, host venue to the annual NACAC New Life Invitational (NLI), and of NACAC, will engage in another round of meetings, virtually, at 11.00am on Thursday 30 September 2021.
Over the past several weeks and months, officials of the two entities have been in discussions on a potential range of activities that can be hosted in Miramar, and which will significantly enhance their relationship on the one hand whilst developing a very strong, athletics-based, developmental programmes for the entire NACAC Area.
Whilst the main focus of discussions thus far, initially, has been on the NLI which was officially inaugurated at the ANSIN Complex on 5 June 2021, and which will become an annual feature in the City, other areas of interest include encouraging coaches with professional teams to use the facilities as an attractive, comprehensive home base. In this regard, the accessibility of the City proves a major attraction. There is also the matter of hosting training camps for coaches and technical officials on a regular basis as well fashioning a range of creative programmes that will appeal to all age groups interested in our sport, athletics.
El Salvador’s National Stadium to undergo extensive rehabilitation
The honorary President of the National Institute of Sport of El Salvador (INDES), Yamil Bukele, on Wednesday last, presented to the nation its final design for the extensive rehabilitation of the country’s national stadium, Jorge ‘El Magico’ Gonzalez.
According to Bukele, the country is investing approximately $22 million dollars in what will be a major undertaking. He informed that demolition work will begin in October 2021.
The Jorge ‘El Mágico’ Gonzalez national stadium is perhaps the most important sports venues in the country, used by the sports federations of athletics, wrestling, bodybuilding, rowing and shooting.
As part of its history, the stadium has hosted the Inauguration Ceremonies of two editions of the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games, 1935 and 2002. The rehabilitation work has been prompted by the country’s decision to host its third CAC Games in 2023.
Athletics will benefit from a new eight-lane track and a three-lane warm up track. For those who wish to exercise on a regular basis, the plans include a running track for use by the Salvadorean public on the outside of the facility.
Salvadorean officials complete Basic Course
ESA has taken the lead with the preparation of its local judges to serve in that capacity at the CAC Games scheduled to take place in the country in 2003.
On Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 September, El Salvador’s international instructor, Rubén Quintanilla, conducted a Basic Course for Athletics Judges. Participants constituted the first group of judges to prepare for the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games.
The course began with a presentation by Lic. Carlos Clemente, Secretary General of the Federation, who spoke about the importance and the work of judges in athletics. Lic. Roxana Zuniga, Administrative Manager of the Federation, motivated the group to continue preparing for the mega-sports event, ensuring that athletics maintains the very high standard set by NACAC.
Meetings this Week
Monday 27 September
7.00pm Miami Time – Meeting of NACAC Development Commission
Tuesday 28 September
11.00am Miami Time – First Meeting of NACAC Coaches Working Group
8.00pm Miami Time – Meeting of NACAC Competitions Commission
Wednesday 29 September
10.00am Miami Time – Weekly Meeting – Mike Sands, Michael Serralta, Chester Morgan,Garth Gayle and Keith Joseph
11.00am Miami Time – Meeting – Director of Coaches and Camps, Chair of NACAC Development Commission and NACAC GS with WA Development re New Development Model
Thursday 29 September
11.00am Miami Time – Follow-up Meeting with City of Miramar
Keith Joseph
P.O. Box 680, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines
Tel: (784) 457 9062 (H); (784) 457 2970 (O)
