Mills laments cancelled Racers GP
Published:Saturday | June 13, 2020 | 12:00 AMAkino Ming /Staff Reporter
Racers Track Club founder and head coach Glen Mills is expecting the cancellation of this year’s Racers Grand Prix to have a significant financial effect on his club.
Along with providing a platform for local athletes to showcase their talents to the world, the four-year-old meet serves as a means to garner money to finance the operations of the club.
But Mills and the hierarchy of the club will have to find others means to support the athletes at the University of the West Indies-based training group as the meet was called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The cancellation will have a significant effect on the club,” Mills told The Gleaner. “Right now, I think it is too early to say (where additional funding will be found to fill the void).”
After months of deliberation and a postponement, Mills, who is the meet director, said it was best to cancel the 2020 edition on Thursday to not endanger the lives of those who were expected to take part.
“It is unfortunate that we had to cancel so early in our history,” he said. “But this (the coronavirus pandemic) is affecting the world, so I doubt it will affect our branding.
“We waited as long as could to make a decision as we were watching what was going on in the world and what is happening here locally. Though things are improving, we are still uncertain of what will happen in the next few months. Also, we were running out of time. Based on experience, one would need more time to plan a meet of the magnitude of Racers Grand Prix.”
GREAT COMMENDATION
Mills said he was disappointed to have to cancel the meet, especially after receiving what he described as “great commendation” from World Athletics, track and field’s international governing body.
“For the health and safety of all participants and stakeholders, we must look ahead to 2021 for the return of Racers Grand Prix,” he said. “Hopefully, by then, we will have sustainable engagement protocols for large sporting events in light of COVID-19.”
The Racers Grand Prix was one of 10 meets in the new series created to accommodate athletes from several disciplines cut from the World Athletics Diamond League for 2020.