World Champs camp: JAAA to meet with stakeholders

President of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA), Garth Gayle, says his organisation will be working very closely with the various stakeholders to decide on suitable dates for their World Athletics Championships training camp.

This year’s World Athletics Championships will be held in Eugene, Oregon, from July 15-24.

The JAAA has encountered a number of logistical problems in the past with athletes failing to show up for training camps due to the breakdown in communication between the association and the management of the athletes.

Gayle told The Gleaner that with this year’s World Championships scheduled for the United States this will make it a lot easier for athletes to traverse between Jamaica and that country for training.

He also stated a lot of Jamaicans are already based in the United States and so once they have been named to the team, then it will be a lot easier for them to attend the camp.

“We will be working with our competition’s committee, we will also be working with members of the local groups to decide on what would make the situation better for our team to Eugene,” said Gayle. “Having a camp has merit to it and following the conversation with them, I believe we will craft the way forward,” he added.

Gayle said that his organisation has not decided on the dates of the camp but he is very hopeful that this will go ahead without any disruption this year as the athletes will now have the benefit of a shorter journey in getting into the United States rather than going into Europe or any other place in the world.

“We want to ensure that everything works out smoothly and therefore will be taking all the necessary steps to ensure that all is in place before the date for this camp is announced,” Gayle.

Jamaica won 12 medals – three gold, five silver and four bronze – at the last World Championships in Doha, Qatar.