THIS WEEK IN NACAC
7 December 2020
Past week in brief
NACAC Council Meeting
The NACAC Council held its final meeting of 2020 on Thursday 3 December 2020 via Zoom with a packed Agenda.
This was the first meeting for Treasurer (Ag), Glenville Jeffers who facilitate a brief update on the state of the organisation’s finances
The meeting heard reports from the Chairs of the respective NACAC Commissions and Working Groups, all of which were relatively detailed.
NACAC reiterated its stance in respect of APA, holding fast to the fact that only World Athletics, Area Associations and member federations of World Athletics are eligible to host World Athletics-sanctioned events. APA, not being a member of World Athletics therefore has no such mandate.
Thursday’s meeting also served as preparation for NACAC’s final Information Session scheduled to take place on Thursday 10 December.
Qatar Tracks
The NACAC Council remains particularly concerned about the fact that at least two of our member federations – AIA and DMA – after having been convinced that they had met all the requirements to qualify for one of the 10 tracks promised by the Qatar MF some years ago while bidding to host the World Outdoor Championships of 2019, they are yet to be brought on board. Indeed, the matter was once more raised at the level of the NACAC Council at its most recent meeting held on Tuesday 3 December 2020.
Within the NACAC Area, AIA, DMA and MNT are the only member federations not in possession of synthetic track. MNT’s problem is that following the spate of volcanic activity and loss of land space it does not seem possible to contemplate the construction of a synthetic track of the order required by international standards
The NACAC Council agreed to have President Sands continue to press World Athletics for the delivery of what the aforementioned member federations remain convinced were promises made to them and for which they have done the best they could to have their respective governments and broader national sport fraternity lend their support.
IVB’s new Executive
Steve Augustine and Stephanie Russ-Penn have been returned as President and General Secretary of the member federation of the British Virgin Islands (IVB). This emerged at the Elective General Meeting of the member federation on Wednesday 2 December 2020.
The full executive reads:
President – Steve Augustine
Vice President – Ralston Henry
General Secretary – Stephanie Russ Penn
Treasurer – Willis Todman
Assistant Secretary – Chantal Scatliffe
Public Relations – Cleave Farrington
Athletes Representative – Nelda Huggins
TTO Elections postponed
At what should have been the Elective General Assembly of the member federation of Trinidad and Tobago on 28 November 2020, took the decision to extend the life of the current executive committee through to 2021, citing the COVID – 19 pandemic as having impacted the preparatory process.
THIS WEEK
NACAC Information Session # 4
The fourth edition of the NACAC Information Session will take place on Thursday 10 December, beginning at 7.00pm Eastern Caribbean Time (6.00pm Miami Time).
President Sands will inform members of the latest developments following his participation in the World Athletics Council Meeting held during the past week.
Members will be given some details on the status of the proposed Development and Athletes’ pathways being organized by the NACAC Development Commission.
The latest updates on the 2021 Calendar will also be presented.
Robert Hersh will outline some of the changes being recommended by the Constitution Review Working Group and, for the first time, members will receive an update from the NACAC Sports Journalists Working Group, delivered by Kwame Lawrence.
Medical and Anti Doping briefs
Chair of the NACAC Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, Dr Adrian Lorde, is advising all member federations of ensuring that their eligible athletes are reminded to make their submissions on their whereabouts for the first quarter of 2021.
The notices have already been circulated. Athletes should already have been informed but member federations should still engage them through timely reminders.
NACAC wants to ensure that its athletes are not among the defaulters in respect of providing Whereabouts information in a timely manner.
We are keen on being the leading Area Association in the world.
Dr Lorde will attend the 2nd Clean Sport Insight Forum which takes place on Tuesday 8 December (11:00-13:00 CET) and Wednesday 9 December (13:00-15:00 CET)
NACAC Carifta 2021
President Mike Sands and General Secretary, Keith Joseph, will hold discussions with the leadership of the member federation of Bermuda on Monday 7 December beginning at 10.00am ECT (9.00am Miami Time).
The discussions will address the latest developments in BER and the implications for that member federation’s hosting of the Carifta Games 2021.
At Thursday’s NACAC Information Session member federations will be duly informed of the outcome of the discussions.
NACAC Constitution Review
The NACAC Constitution Review Working Group will convene on Friday 11 December in the hope that it could complete its work before the end of the year.
With some 40 recommendations already prepared, the NACAC Council, and general membership will certainly be required to closely examine each recommendation in detail as well as perhaps, make their own recommendations going forward.
Only the Congress can approve the final amended NACAC Constitution.
