Visa waiver issue delays NACAC team’s departure
Published:Wednesday | July 19, 2023 | 12:11 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
TWO DAYS before the start of the North American Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) Under 18-Under 23 Championships in San Jose, Costa Rica, the team experienced delays in their arrival in the country because of visa issues.
According to a release by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) yesterday, a group of 21 athletes were scheduled to depart the island and overnight in the Dominican Republic before departing to Costa Rica today. However, that departure was delayed because of the non-issuance of a requested waiver on the Visa requirement for entry into Costa Rica. Additionally, the release stated that the airline did not board the athletes as they did not have the requisite documents.
“After our championships, it was expected that the requested waiver would have been approved in time for the athletes to be granted entry upon arrival in Costa Rica,” the statement read.
That expectation according to the statement was based on continuous conversations with the JAAA, NACAC leadership and the Local Organising Committee in Costa Rica ensuring that “all required documentation was in place for the team to travel”.
Jamaican passport holders are required to have a visa for entry.
According to the Costa Rica Embassy in Washington DC website, nationals of countries that require a visa to enter Costa Rica are no longer required to apply if: 1) you have a tourist, crew or business visa to enter the United States or a tourist or business entry visa to enter Canada, 2) An exemption can also be granted if you have permanent residence (green card holder) in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Iceland and countries that are members of the European Union.
A total of four athletes and officials are expected to be in Costa Rica for the games and the second group are scheduled to leave today for Costa Rica with a stop in Panama.
The JAAA said that the bodies are “making every attempt to facilitate the arrival of the second group through Panama” which is scheduled for today in addition to the other affected athletes to have them arrive on time for their events.
The NACAC Under-18 and Under-23 championships are scheduled to begin on Friday.