THIS WEEK IN NACAC
14 November 2021
NACAC ready for 53rd World Athletics Congress & Convention
NACAC member federations (MF) are eager to participate in this week’s 53rd World Athletics Congress and the Convention, which will take place virtually, 16 – 18 November, inclusive.
The three-day event begins on 16 November with the Convention, followed by the Congress over the next two days.
NACAC member federations have been in attendance at the Information Sessions over the past several months and look forward to actively participating in the several; sessions during the week. Of course, of immense interest to all of our member federations is the discussion on the World Plan.
In our own Special Congress last week, Willie Banks, Chair of the grouping that prepared the World Plan, spent some time explaining the process and the document that emerged from the discussions, leading to the final product that will be laid before the general membership of World Athletics at the Congress.
This year’s Congress addresses some fundamental changes amidst some cosmetic ones. They are all of immense importance to the future of the sport of athletics which we are all working to keep as the leading sport in the world for individuals.
President pleased with NACAC Special Congress
In a number of interviews following the conclusion of the NACAC Special Congress on Saturday 6 November, President Mike Sands, expressed his satisfaction with the event at which, at one time, there were over 69 persons in attendance.
The Special Congress was virtual, “but the NACAC membership showed their commitment to the organization. They were also not disappointed. The readily received the reports of the several Commissions and Working Groups, each of which manifested the tremendous amount of work in which they are engaged. On behalf of the organization”.
World Athletics President, Lord Sebastian Coe, delivered an address that spoke to the activities of the organization and the progress made, ahead of the Convention and the 53rd Congress scheduled for this week and which will be held virtually.
Several member federations have commented favourably on the confidence with which the Chairpersons conducted themselves when called upon to respond to comments and/or questions, or to add anything to what they had prepared and circulated ahead of the Congress.
Of course, one of the major highlights of the Congress was the announcement by the JAAA President and Chair of the Competitions Commission, Garth Gayle, that Jamaica will host the 49th edition of the annual Carifta Games in 2022.
LOC has Carifta Games planning well in hand
With the Carifta Games of 2020 and 2021 abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Guyana withdrawing from hosting the edition scheduled for 2021, NACAC reached out to Jamaica. The eager response from the JAAA, the most successful of all Carifta teams over the 48 years of the event’s history thus far, augurs well for the kind of excitement that the Games will attract in the country.
Jamaica’s athletics legacy, which dates back to the island nation’s first Olympic Gold medal at the Olympic Games in London, UK, in 1948, is particularly rich and colourful. The vast majority of its world recognized athletes in track and field athletics had their origins in the Carifta Games which began in 1972.
World Athletics president, Lord Sebastian Coe, like his IAAF predecessor, Lamine Diack, has committed to being in attendance at every edition of the event, since his first appearance when St Kitts and Nevis hosted the competition in 2015.
Happily, the JAAA is already well ahead with its planning.
One notable feature is that the Chair of the Local Organising Committee is the well-respected and world-renowned former President of the Commonwealth Games Federation and President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, Hon. Michael Fennell.
The LOC met on a second occasion last week and the report reaching the NACAC leadership is that the event will take place and that the planning process is as extensive as it is intensive and that we can rest assured that the JAAA and the country of Jamaica will deliver on its commitment.
NACAC continues to inform interested member federations that bids are open for the host of the 50th anniversary of the annual Carifta Games, scheduled for 2023.
CADICA MFs prepare for NACAC Age Group Championships
Member federations of the CADICA grouping within NACAC have been preparing themselves for the NACAC Age Group Championships.
CADICA has conveniently scheduled its own Championships for children U13 and U15 no Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November 2021. These are being held in Managua, Nicaragua. This is with full knowledge that the NACAC Age Group Championships are to be held at the same venue in Nicaragua, on 17 and 18 December 2021.
El Salvador has already held its the selection trials for the CADICA Age Group. Once the event is completed, the team for the NACAC Championships will be finalised.
Guatemala held its trials for the CADICA Championships last weekend and has selected its athletes for Nicaragua.
Honduras has also sent its final entry to Nicaragua for the CADICA event.
Nicaragua, host to both the CADICA and NACAC Championships in November and December respectively, held its final preparation event on Saturday 13 November. The local team is hopeful for a good showing before home crowds.
President of the Nicaraguan Athletics Federation, Xiomara Larios, is pleased with the response of CADICA member federations thus far and hopes that the event serves as a full test event for the NACAC Age Group Championships that follows.
Meanwhile, NACAC President, Mike Sands, continued his appeal for NACAC members to attend the Championships in December. At the recent NACAC Special Congress, Sands commended CADICA member federations for their commitment to NACAC and the hosting of the Area
Championships at a time when “we are all experiencing severe economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic”.
REMINDER!!!!! NACAC Athletes’ Tribute
The stage is set.
The athletes are agreed.
NACAC is ready!
The NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group is organizing a celebration of the remarkable achievements of the Area’s athletes at the most recent edition of the Summer Olympic Games.. The NACAC Gender Leadership Working Group will close off the 2021 season by Celebrating the Uniqueness of our NACAC Athletes Performances at the Tokyo Olympics.
Scheduled for Saturday 11 December 2021, beginning at 10:00am (Miami time), the planned two- hour celebration will feature some of our athletes availing themselves to interact with ther growing number of fans of our sport across the Area.
Athletes who have availed themselves to be part of the event are:
Kirani James- Grenada Kyron McMaster- BVI
Shaunae Miller-Uibo – Bahamas Steve Gardiner- Bahamas Genevieve Lalonde – Canada Stephanie Ann McPherson- Jamaica
Jasmine Camacho-Quinn- Puerto Rico
NACAC is encouraging each member federation invite their young athletes (male and female) to attend the special tribute to our athletics heroes.
Meetings this Week
Wednesday 17 November 2021
7.00pm – Weekly meeting – Mike Sands, Michael Serralta, Garth Gayle and Chester Morgan
Keith Joseph
P.O. Box 680, Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines
Tel: (784) 457 9062 (H); (784) 457 2970 (O)
