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Jackson calls Synthetic Track “great investment”
By Edison Jefford
Renowned regional voice in athletics, Jamaican 200m silver medalist from the Seoul Games in 1988, Grace Jackson, believes that Government’s investment in the Synthetic Track and Field Facility at Leonora is “great”
Jamaican 1988 Olympic silver medalist, Grace Jackson, a renowned voice in athletics regionally, speaks with the media yesterday at the Synthetic Track and Field Facility. Permanent Secretary, Alfred King (right) and Parliament Secretary, Steve Ninvalle flank Jackson.
for the sport’s development.
Jackson visited the track yesterday that Trinidad and Tobago’s multiple Olympic medalist, Ato Boldon was expected to grace with his presence. Both Jackson and Boldon are in Guyana as a part of a Government-backed Sports Management Workshop.
The popular former Jamaican athlete began her brief insight on the track with an apology for the absence of Boldon, who she said was not feeling well and therefore could not make the visit. She then went swiftly into her thoughts on the facility.
“This is a great investment,” she said, adding “as I spoke about the paradigm shift, this is a great way of showing that vision is coming into practice.” Jackson believes that the facility, after what she called “community development,” should be the ultimate place for the development of local track and field.
During her opening remarks on Wednesday at the workshop, Jackson had said that the paradigm in sports in the region has shifted and Guyana was left behind. The Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport recognised the reality and acknowledged the need for the forum that will conclude today at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue.
According to Jackson, the model should be development of communities across Guyana where a synthetic track is not really necessary; following such impact, she said the synthetic track should be the final place of competitiveness, coming out of communities.
“What can happen here is what happens in Jamaica where we cover the entire island,” she said, speaking about the need for decentralisation of competition before the synthetic track comes into use. Jackson said that Guyana can learn from other Caribbean countries.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King, told the media that the plan is to have all basic utilities at the track in place by year end. He said those will include, lights, running water and basic seating.
The facility, which commenced construction in 2010 had a number of delays and setbacks over the years and is expected now to cost US$5M to complete. The construction of Guyana’s first Synthetic Track and Field Facility was included in the budgeted amount of $392,500,000 million for four areas four years ago, but it was unclear then how much was specifically budgeted for the construction of athletics facility.
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