Douglas Orane (right), CEO and chairman of GraceKennedy Limited, speaks with Dr Walton Small (left), president of the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), and students (from left) Ramone McKenzie of Calabar, Diandra Gilbert and La-Toya Campbell of The Queen's School during the press launch of the Grace ISSA Boys' and Girls' Championships at the Terra Nova Hotel yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/ Staff Photographer
Increased security costs will force the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) to spend just over $5 million more this year to stage the annual GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Championships.
This was revealed at yesterday's official launch of the championships at the Terra Nova Hotel in St Andrew.
Chairman of the Boys' and Girls' Championships committee, Cle-ment Radcliffe, said security will take up 10 per cent more of the meet's budget, which has increased from $18.9 million last year to $24 million. Last year, security costs amounted to 20 per cent of the budget, it's now 30 per cent.
"We will be paying the police this year," Radcliffe said.
In the past, the police were only given refreshments but things have changed. According to Radcliffe, it is now a 'formal arrangement' that the police be paid when they turn up for an event. The police will be supported by private security companies.
Increases in goods
Radcliffe, a former president of ISSA, added that apart from the hike in security costs, there have been increases in the goods and services which will facilitate the smooth running of the meet.
Douglas Orane, chief executive officer and chairman of main sponsor GraceKennedy, in wishing for a great 2009 renewal meet, called on young spectators and students to remember that the eyes of the world will be on the championships.
"Since the Olympics, the international spotlight has been turned up even more intensely on our athletes and we expect that the international media will take an even greater interest in Champs this year," Orane said.
In light of media reports of ugly incidents, he called on the management and alumni of the affected schools to register their disapproval of this type of behaviour in no uncertain way.
Both the GraceKennedy chairman and ISSA's president, Dr Walton Small, also called on athletes to resist the temptation to take short cuts to glory.
"Our integrity is unblemished and we want to continue to demonstrate that goals can be achieved naturally," Dr Small said.
The April 1-4 meet is expected to again attract large crowds over the especially the last two days. Season tickets have already been sold out. Tickets for the grandstand will go on sale on April 1.
On April 1 and 2 spectators will pay $200 to enter the grandstand while the bleachers will be closed. On Friday the entrance fees will be grandstand $1,000 and bleachers $350, while on the final day the entrance fee for the grandstand is $1,600 and bleachers $700.